Jane Salihu
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced plans to strengthen its election-day operations, train party agents nationwide and coordinate its support groups as part of efforts to protect its votes in the 2027 general elections.
The party has also fixed October 20, 2026, for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council, presentation of Certificates of Return to its candidates and a strategic dinner involving candidates contesting various elective positions across the country.
The National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, disclosed this on Saturday during a press briefing at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, where he outlined the party’s preparations for the elections and dismissed suggestions that it was experiencing internal divisions or was unprepared for the polls.
Zuwoghe said the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) would meet on October 20 to consider and ratify key decisions concerning its preparations for the 2027 elections.
He explained that the party had completed the proposed campaign council’s organisational structure and timetable since the end of August but was awaiting consultations with its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, respectively, over nominations for strategic positions.
According to him, the candidates are expected to recommend nominees for positions including Director-General, Deputy Director-General, campaign spokesperson, Director of Social Media and Financial Controller.
He added that the candidates would also nominate two officers who, alongside the party’s National Treasurer, would oversee the campaign council’s dedicated bank account.
The chairman said the consultations were intended to ensure that appointments reflected competence, national spread and the capacity to coordinate an effective nationwide campaign.
He maintained that constituting the campaign council without the active involvement of the presidential candidate and his running mate would be inappropriate, given their central roles in determining the direction and organisation of the campaign.
NDC Plans Nationwide Training for Election Agents
Beyond the campaign structure, Zuwoghe said the NDC was developing arrangements for recruiting, training and deploying polling and collation agents to monitor the electoral process and protect the interests of its candidates.
He explained that candidates contesting state and national elections would nominate agents to represent them, with separate lists to be submitted for state and national contests, including the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections.
The party plans to organise intensive training for the nominated agents to familiarise them with electoral procedures, vote monitoring, reporting irregularities and their responsibilities during the collation of results.
Zuwoghe said the initiative was informed partly by lessons from the 2023 presidential election, adding that the party was determined to strengthen its organisational capacity and avoid repeating mistakes that could undermine its performance in 2027.
He insisted that the NDC was committed to participating fully in the elections and had fielded candidates for the presidency, governorships, the Senate, the House of Representatives and state houses of assembly.
Addressing concerns about the credibility of the forthcoming elections, the chairman declared, “Allow votes to count or be counted.”
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that the electoral process reflected the will of Nigerians.
While expressing confidence in the party’s electoral prospects, Zuwoghe urged security and intelligence agencies to remain non-partisan, warning against actions capable of undermining public confidence in the elections.
He also maintained that election results should be declared by the appropriate electoral officials in accordance with the law.
Party Moves to Coordinate Support Groups
The NDC chairman highlighted the role of support groups in its mobilisation strategy, acknowledging the contributions of organisations associated with the Obi and Kwankwaso political movements.
He specifically mentioned the Obidients, Kwankwasiyya and OK Movement, describing their mobilisation capacity and grassroots reach as important to the party’s electoral objectives.
However, he cautioned that support groups should work within a coordinated framework and avoid assuming responsibilities reserved for the party leadership, including independently constituting a presidential campaign committee while consultations were ongoing.
According to him, the NDC intends to involve genuine support groups in its campaign structure to ensure that their expertise and networks contribute meaningfully to voter mobilisation.
Zuwoghe also expressed concern over what he described as attempts by some individuals to create confusion within the party’s support base through misinformation and competing claims of representation.
He alleged that some groups might be acting in ways that undermine the party’s preparations, although the claims were not independently established.
The chairman insisted that the party remained open to genuine organisations supporting its candidates but would not allow activities that could disrupt its campaign planning.
He urged supporters to prioritise the party’s collective objectives and avoid being distracted by controversies circulating on social media.
Chairman Dismisses Claims of Internal Division
Zuwoghe rejected suggestions that the NDC was divided or that its leadership was working against its presidential ticket.
He said the party’s National Working Committee, NEC, National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, and structures at the state, local government and ward levels remained committed to the party’s candidates.
He also dismissed allegations that Dickson was working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the NDC, arguing that the establishment and registration of the party demonstrated a separate political direction.
“Why would Dickson go the tortuous and more expensive route of setting up and registering a party when it would have been easier and more financially beneficial to simply join the APC?” he asked.
The chairman urged journalists to exercise caution when reporting political allegations and speculation, warning that unverified claims could create unnecessary distrust among party members and voters.
He also acknowledged the judiciary’s role in the process through which the party was registered and called for continued support for INEC.
Town Hall Meetings Continue Ahead of Formal Campaign
On voter engagement, Zuwoghe dismissed claims that the party had yet to begin mobilisation, disclosing that town hall meetings had already been held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as well as Sokoto and Kaduna.
He said the party planned to hold another meeting in Enugu the following week as part of efforts to engage communities, communicate its political message and strengthen grassroots support ahead of the formal campaign.
“Our town hall began in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. I was there with our presidential candidate, the running mate, the Rivers State governorship candidate of the party, Dumont Lulu Briggs, among several others. We have also had town hall meetings in Sokoto and Kaduna. And by next week, we’ll be in Enugu,” he said.
He described Obi and Kwankwaso as candidates whose joint ticket was intended to appeal to Nigerians across regional, religious and ethnic lines.
The chairman also identified young Nigerians as an important part of the party’s electoral strategy, saying the NDC was seeking to combine youth participation with the experience of established political leaders.
On the broader political contest, Zuwoghe said the party was determined to compete across the country and pursue all lawful means of protecting its candidates and votes.
He warned against electoral manipulation and urged political actors to respect the democratic process, insisting that the 2027 general elections must provide Nigerians with an opportunity to determine their leadership through the ballot.
The October 20 activities, he said, would bring together key elements of the party’s preparations, including the NEC meeting, inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council, presentation of Certificates of Return and a strategic dinner for candidates.
Zuwoghe expressed confidence in the party’s preparations and reaffirmed its stated objective of national renewal, declaring: “Nigeria must work again.”
