Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has unveiled his Presidential Campaign Council ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, appointing Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman.
Senator Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu was appointed Director-General and Campaign Manager, while veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu was given a senior role within the Media and Communications Directorate.
The campaign structure was announced on Thursday, September 24, 2026, as the ADC intensifies preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
According to reports on the structure, the council has been designed around six major operational directorates covering administration, operations, media and communications, contact and mobilisation, diversity and support groups, and technical and systems.
Kashim Ibrahim-Imam Named Chairman
Kashim Ibrahim-Imam will chair Atiku’s Presidential Campaign Council.
His appointment places him at the top of the campaign’s operational structure, with El-Rufai serving as deputy chairman.
The council is expected to coordinate the different arms of the presidential campaign as the ADC moves towards broader nationwide political activities ahead of the 2027 election.
The campaign has described the structure as deliberately lean, with responsibilities distributed among specific offices to reduce duplication and improve accountability.
El-Rufai Appointed Deputy Chairman
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the campaign council.
El-Rufai is one of the most prominent figures named in the structure and is expected to contribute to high-level political coordination and engagement with stakeholders across the country.
His appointment comes while he is also involved in ongoing legal and investigative matters that have been reported by Nigerian media. Those matters remain separate from his new campaign role, and allegations connected to any proceedings should not be treated as established facts unless determined by the relevant authorities or courts.
Akobundu Named Campaign Director-General
Senator Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu has been appointed Director-General and Campaign Manager.
According to the campaign announcement, Akobundu will coordinate the party’s campaign structures across the country and oversee its political and operational activities.
Akobundu is a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army and currently represents Abia Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
He previously served as Minister of State for Defence under former President Goodluck Jonathan and has held several positions within party administration, including National Organising Secretary and South-East Zonal Chairman.
The campaign said his military, administrative, political and legislative background would support the coordination of its nationwide operations.
Dele Momodu Takes Media Role
Veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu has been appointed Deputy Director-General of the Media and Communications Directorate.
He will coordinate the campaign’s media and communications operations across traditional, broadcast and digital platforms.
Other officials named within the media structure include Phrank Shaibu as Director of Strategic Communication, Kola Ologbondiyan as Director of Media and Publicity, Ladan Salihu as Director of Branding and Moji Rhodes-Vivour as Director of Digital and Online Media.
Kenneth Okonkwo, Keturah King, Nana Kazaure, Uche Diala and Dahiru Maishanu were also listed as campaign spokespersons.
The appointments give the campaign separate responsibilities for strategic communication, publicity, branding, digital communication and public messaging.
Dino Melaye Assigned Mobilisation Role
Former Kogi State Senator Dino Melaye is also part of the campaign structure.
He will be involved in national outreach, mobilisation and public engagement as part of the Contact and Mobilisation Directorate.
Other figures listed under the mobilisation structure include Solomon Dalung, who will oversee Mandate Protection, Naomi Labari, who will head Women Mobilisation, and Balarabe Rufai, who will be responsible for Youth Mobilisation.
The structure therefore gives specific attention to mobilisation and engagement with different groups as the campaign develops its nationwide network.
Policy Team Includes Hayatudeen and Moghalu
The campaign’s policy structure will be coordinated by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen.
Professor Mohammed Sagagi is listed as Deputy Chairman of the Policy Team, while Aare Aremijoye is Secretary.
Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, is also part of the policy team, alongside other figures including Professor Mustapha Akinkunmi and Senator Abdul Ningi.
The campaign has identified issues including the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power among the concerns its policy structure will address.
John Oyegun to Chair Advisory Council
Former Edo State Governor and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, has been named Chairman of the Campaign Advisory Council.
Former Senator Ben Obi and Lawal Batagarawa will serve as deputy chairmen, while Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, has been named secretary.
The advisory council is separate from the main campaign management structure and is expected to provide senior-level political and strategic guidance.
Former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha are among the senior campaign advisers listed in the structure.
Six Operational Directorates
The campaign council has been organised into six major operational directorates.
They are:
- Administration
- Operations
- Media and Communications
- Contact and Mobilisation
- Diversity and Support Groups
- Technical and Systems
Each directorate will have a Deputy Director-General, while 30 directors have been assigned specific responsibilities across the campaign structure.
The campaign said the arrangement was intended to create clearly defined responsibilities and improve coordination among its different arms.
Other Major Appointments
Lauretta Onochie has been appointed Deputy Director-General of the Technical and Systems Directorate, while Salihu Tanko Yakasai will oversee Diversity and Support Groups.
The campaign structure brings together politicians, public officials, journalists, economists, policy experts and professionals from different fields.
The announcement also formally establishes the Presidential Campaign Management Committee alongside the broader campaign council.
What the Structure Means for the 2027 Campaign
The unveiling gives Atiku’s presidential campaign a formal organisational framework as political preparations for the 2027 election intensify.
The structure covers the principal areas required for a national presidential campaign, including political coordination, media, mobilisation, policy development, administration and technical operations.
Atiku is contesting the 2027 presidential election on the ADC platform, with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
The effectiveness of the campaign structure will ultimately depend on how the various officials carry out their assigned responsibilities and how the campaign presents its policies and engages voters.
For the ADC, the immediate task will be to translate the newly announced organisational structure into nationwide political activity and policy communication as the election approaches.
What Happens Next
The campaign council is expected to begin coordinating its various directorates as the ADC builds its presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The media and communications team will handle campaign messaging and public communication, while the mobilisation structure will focus on outreach and engagement.
The policy team is expected to develop proposals addressing issues identified by the campaign, including economic pressures, unemployment, insecurity and purchasing power.
Further campaign activities, policy announcements, stakeholder engagements and appointments are expected as the electoral process progresses.
The unveiling therefore represents the formal establishment of a campaign organisation through which Atiku and the ADC will conduct their presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 election.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch
- Trust Radio
- Blueprint Newspapers
- Politics Nigeria
- The Sun Nigeria
