2027: Obi-Kwankwaso Movement unveils 59-member campaign council

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement has constituted a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council as part of its preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The council, unveiled on Thursday, comprises zonal and state coordinators as well as directors overseeing mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas of the campaign.

Director-General of the movement, John Ughulu, was appointed Director-General of the campaign, while the National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, is also part of the campaign leadership.

The campaign structure covers the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with coordinators designated for the 36 states.

Other positions created include directors for grassroots mobilisation, women affairs, contact and engagement, special duties, procurement, information technology, legal affairs, strategy and planning, security and intelligence, and administration.

The development followed the movement’s intensified preparations to mobilise support for the joint presidential ticket of Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 election.

In a congratulatory message to the newly appointed council members, Sani described their selection as a responsibility and charged them with taking the message of the movement’s principals to Nigerians across the country.

She said, “Your selection is not merely an appointment; it is a call to duty, sacrifice, leadership and service to Nigeria. At this critical moment in our nation’s history, the responsibility before the presidential campaign council is enormous.

“You have been entrusted with the task of taking the vision, message and aspirations of our principals directly to the Nigerian people from the cities to the grassroots, from the states to the local governments, and from the wards to every community across the federation.

“Your appointment is an honour, but more importantly, it is a responsibility. The journey has begun. The assignment is clear. The mission is Nigeria.”

Sani said the campaign would focus on a broader national vision rather than individuals seeking personal recognition.

“The OK Movement is not built around individuals seeking personal recognition. It is a movement driven by a larger national vision: to mobilise Nigerians around the possibility of a better, more prosperous, united and functional Nigeria.

“We therefore expect every member of the Presidential Campaign Council to approach this assignment with discipline, loyalty, humility, courage and an unwavering commitment to the collective vision of the movement.

“The road ahead will require hard work. It will require strategic thinking, grassroots mobilisation, effective communication and, above all, the ability to work together as one formidable political family,” she stated.

The National Secretary further said the council’s immediate task was to take the message of its principals to voters across the country.

She said, “Our responsibility is to ensure that the message of our principals reaches every Nigerian and that the voice of the people is heard across the length and breadth of our nation.”

Those appointed as zonal coordinators include Suleiman Abubakar for the North-Central; Hashimu Dungurawa, North-West; Amadu Gwambe, North-East; Dr Adebayo Adefolaseye, South-West; Christopher Ighodaro, South-South; and El-Shaddai Ikeh, South-East.

State coordinators were also appointed for the 36 states and the FCT.

Other members of the council are Rev Mike Agbon, Director, Inter-Ethnic Group in Northern Nigeria; Sabo Gashua, Grassroots Mobilisation; Glory Adayi, Women Affairs; Kabir Yahaya, Contact and Engagement; Abdumumini Tijjani, Mobilisation; Yusuf Mani, Special Duties; Peace Daful, Procurement; Prof Charles Nwekeaku, South Eastern Town Hall; and Sunmisola Adebayo, Information Technology.

Kingdom Okere was appointed Director of Legal Affairs; Abiodun Dabiri, Strategy and Planning; Richard Enemona CSP (retd.), Security and Intelligence; while Aisha Abdulrahaman was named Director of Administration.

The group had last month reiterated its decision to maintain an independent structure rather than merge with another political organisation ahead of the 2027 elections. It also reaffirmed its support for Ughulu as its founder and Director-General.

The latest development comes days after the movement condemned the reported disruption of Obi’s convoy during his visit to Benue State and demanded an impartial investigation into the incident.

The OK Movement said its security personnel deliberately exercised restraint to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.