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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

2027: Obi, Kwankwaso camps deny campaign council rift

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Camps of presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso deny reports of a rift over the 2027 campaign council composition.
  • Sources had claimed party chieftains were jostling for positions ahead of campaign commencement.
  • Spokesmen for both camps dismissed the reports as speculation, stating consultations are ongoing for a strong campaign team.

The camps of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso have refuted claims of internal conflict regarding the formation of their 2027 presidential campaign council. Reports had suggested a power struggle among party leaders and loyalists vying for influential roles as campaigns were set to begin.

That is speculation. There is no power tussle anywhere or infighting over who makes the NDC presidential campaign council.

— Habibu MuhammedDismissing reports of a power struggle within the NDC campaign council.

Sources close to the politicians had indicated growing tension between the two factions due to ongoing consultations by the party leadership and the presidential candidate concerning the campaign council's membership. However, Habibu Muhammed, the spokesman for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, labeled these reports as mere speculation. He affirmed that consultations are indeed underway among the party, the presidential aspirant, and other stakeholders.

What I know actually is that there is no issue concerning the constitution of the campaign council. I know there are ongoing consultations.

— Habibu MuhammedConfirming ongoing consultations for the campaign council.

"What I know actually is that there is no issue concerning the constitution of the campaign council. I know there are ongoing consultations," Muhammed stated. He added that the party is working on collecting details to form a strong and reliable campaign team. Muhammed also pointed out that the ruling All Progressives Congress has not yet constituted its campaign council, suggesting such delays are not unusual.

Maybe because it had to do with the NDC. Otherwise, even the APC has not yet constituted a campaign council. All I know is that there is an attempt actually from the party to make sure that it has a strong and reliable campaign team.

— Habibu MuhammedComparing the NDC's campaign council formation to that of the APC.

Ladipo Johnson, an NDC Lagos Central senatorial candidate and Kwankwaso spokesman, echoed Muhammed's sentiment. He questioned the basis of any grievances over a campaign council list that has not yet been released. Johnson emphasized that the campaign council is a call to service and expressed doubt that individuals would intensely compete for roles if their primary goal is the party's victory.

I am wondering how some persons will be aggrieved over an NDC list.

— Ladipo JohnsonQuestioning the basis of complaints about an unreleased campaign council list.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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