Politics
NDC Launches 2027 Campaign, Sends Message to Members
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has directed its candidates for the 2027 general elections to begin consultations, sensitisation and grassroots campaigns as preparations intensify for the polls.
The party also announced plans to inaugurate its various campaign committees as it prepares for the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director.
Director urged candidates to work with party stakeholders at the national, state and local levels in organising their campaign activities.
The party said the campaigns would be used to introduce its candidates to voters, strengthen its grassroots structures and communicate its message to Nigerians as a grassroots-oriented political organisation.
“To all candidates, we are directing that they begin their familiarisation, sensitisation and consultations. Similarly, local campaign events can now continue,” the statement said.
The NDC also instructed its state, local government and ward structures to prepare schedules for their respective campaign activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The party will soon release the composition of its campaign organs, which will be announced and inaugurated on a date to be announced,” it stated.
“We direct all candidates across the country to begin their campaigns. State chapters, local government chapters and down to the wards, should organise and draw up itinerary for their own local campaigns,” the party added.
While urging its members to intensify their engagement with voters, the NDC cautioned candidates and supporters against violence, abusive language and inflammatory rhetoric.
The party said its campaign would be based on issues affecting Nigerians and that it would not tolerate violent conduct from its members.
“In keeping with the ideology of NDC, the party reiterates that all campaigns must be issue-based and devoid of violence and foul language. The NDC has no room for violence,” the statement said.
The party also addressed the use of its logo during the ongoing preparations for the elections, directing candidates and members to continue using its existing logo featuring the two-finger victory sign for campaign purposes.
The NDC said it had consulted with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on a modification to its logo and had formally informed the electoral body of the change.
However, it said some administrative issues were still being resolved before the new logo could officially replace the existing one.
“For some reasons, however, there have been some administrative details which we’re working round the clock to resolve before the existing logo would be replaced with the modified version,” the party stated.
It added, “Until then, however, we enjoin all our candidates and members to continue to use the old logo, which is also the two-finger victory sign, for campaign purposes for now, pending the conclusion of all engagements and arrangements with INEC on the replacement.”
Earlier, the party’s presidential candidate, Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi formally announced the commencement of his 2027 campaign.
The former governor said he was motivated by the need to address the challenges facing Nigerians.
Obi said he was joining the presidential contest with the conviction that Nigeria could overcome its current difficulties if properly governed.
“I consider myself to be among those contesting to address the challenges Nigeria is currently facing. I join this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria must work,” Obi said.
He also called for the 2027 election to be based on the competence and character of candidates rather than religion or ethnicity.
“The 2017 election must be guided by competence, capacity, compassion, character and commitment,” Obi said.
“Our campaign will focus on the urgent concerns of Nigerians and not on ethnicity or religion. Nigerians must reject and disregard any campaign driven by propaganda, ethnicity, religion or cronyism,” he added.
Obi said he and his team would travel across the country to engage Nigerians directly, listen to their concerns and develop policies around their experiences.
“As my team and I travel across the country, we will listen to Nigerians, understand their needs and concerns, and assure them that we have the competence, character and compassion to lead and reset Nigeria for the benefit of all,” he said.
He identified insecurity, poverty, hunger, poor education, the growing number of out-of-school children and inadequate healthcare among the major challenges that the next administration must address.
“Nigeria deserves leaders who will engage with them, listen to their concerns and present clear solutions to unite the country, defeat insecurity, lift people out of poverty, drastically reduce hunger and the number of out-of-school children, improve education and healthcare, and build growth that serves everyone, especially the most vulnerable,” Obi said.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has criticised Obi’s campaign launch as a “content creation press conference.”
The remark was made by the Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala.
Bwala, in a post on X, accused Obi of failing to use the opportunity to clearly present his vision and mission to Nigerians.
“One candidate just did a world content creation press conference with empty rhetorics and unconvincing statements speaking to few recognizable media outlets and many unrecognizable fake news ‘tags on the mics,’” Bwala wrote.
He added, “He missed the opportunity to define his vision and mission; he was sounding like he is INEC setting the rules of engagement.”
Bwala further stated, “The truth is you cannot give what you don’t have.”
The Peoples Democratic Party has fixed September 29, 2026, for a fresh governorship primary election in Gombe State following a Federal High Court order nullifying the process that produced former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, as the party’s candidate.
The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, on Thursday, September 24, ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary after nullifying Pantami’s emergence as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Friday, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Gombe State, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, directed eligible delegates to assemble at their respective ward areas for the fresh exercise.
The statement read in part, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gombe State Chapter, wishes to inform all its card-carrying members that a repeat Governorship Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, 29th September 2026.
“All eligible delegates are hereby directed to assemble at their respective ward areas to participate in the exercise and vote for the aspirant of their choice.”
The party also urged its members, supporters and well-wishers to cooperate with the arrangements for the exercise and conduct themselves peacefully and orderly.
It said the fresh primary would be conducted in line with the court’s directive and would determine its candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Pantami had emerged as the PDP’s candidate through a voice affirmation at the party’s May 26 governorship primary.
His emergence was subsequently challenged by PDP governorship aspirants, including Usman Garry, who argued that the process did not constitute a valid primary.
The court ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with its guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
…Says Makinde Already Gasping for Breath Politically in Oyo
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has described as laughable the call by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step aside for its presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde, saying the party should first demonstrate that it possesses the national structure and political strength required to mount a serious presidential challenge.
The Campaign Organisation disclosed this in a statement sying it was the height of political hallucination for the APM to speak as though the presidency of Nigeria could be secured through press statements and political theatrics rather than through nationwide organisation and electoral support.
“Declaring an ambition is one thing; building the political structure required to prosecute a nationwide presidential election is another entirely.
“The APM should tell Nigerians how extensive its electoral structures are across the federation and demonstrate its capacity to compete effectively across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“It must have candidates across various elective positions in at least one third of the country to show seriousness.
“But can we blame the APM spokesperson for issuing a press statement at the end of the month in a subtle reminder to his hirers that his salary is due for payment?
“More importantly, even Governor Seyi Makinde, whom the APM now parades as its presidential candidate, has serious political battles to fight in his home state of Oyo. In fact, he is gasping for breath politically in the state.
“A man seeking to conquer Nigeria must first demonstrate compelling political strength on his own turf. Charity, as the saying goes, begins at home,” the statement said.
The 2027 presidential election will not be decided by who issues the loudest press statement. It will be determined by Nigerians.
President Tinubu is seeking another mandate on the platform of a party with an established nationwide organisation and on a track record that is solid and acknowledged internationally.
“For Governor Makinde, however, that national ambition does not erase the political contest unfolding back home in Oyo State.
“The APM should therefore prepare for the verdict of the electorate rather than behave as though political power can be transferred by proclamation.
“The presidency of Nigeria is neither inherited nor surrendered on demand. It is contested for and determined by the Nigerian people at the ballot box.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to inaugurate and lead the campaign machinery in Abuja and Rivers State to drive the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu.
Wike disclosed this in Chikuku, Abuja on Friday, after he inspected the ongoing construction of Phase two of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualisation project.
He added that he would personally lead the campaign effort within the nation’s capital and extend the re-election operations to his home state of Rivers.
According to him, political parties across the spectrum are organising their ranks, and supporters of the President are fully prepared to initiate an aggressive campaign.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), I believe, is putting itself together for an aggressive campaign.
“For us who are supporting Mr President from different political platforms, we have put our machinery ready to fully kickstart.
“Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State, which I will lead. All elements of the APC are ready, Mr President is ready, we are ready and you can see the enthusiasm.”
Addressing critics and political opponents, Wike argued that visible development projects would serve as the main driver for electoral support in the FCT, dismissing allegations of electoral malpractice ahead of time.
“People are happy, and I don’t know who will contest against Mr President as far as this election is concerned.
“This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes,” he said.
Wike expressed confidence that the administration’s infrastructure record would secure victory across board in the FCT, including support for Sen. Philip Aduda and the two House of Representatives seats.
“It is very obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in the FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy,” Wike said.
Commending both the contractor and site engineers for the progress recorded so far, the minister assured stakeholders that adequate funding would be disbursed to guarantee completion by December.
“This is my first time getting to this side of the road, and I can see how highly populated this area is,” he said.
Wike emphasised that delivering functional infrastructure remains the cornerstone of good governance and public satisfaction.
“You can imagine the enthusiasm and happiness on the faces of the people. That is why we say the essence of governance is to make people happy.
“When the people are happy, those in authority are happy,” he added, expressing gratitude to Tinubu for providing sustained support for capital projects in the territory.
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