The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced a new date for the unveiling and inauguration of its National Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party said the event, initially scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, would now take place on Monday, October 26, following a change in the schedule of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the announcement was contained in a press statement issued on Monday, October 19, by the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq.
According to the statement, the postponement was necessary because of an important overseas engagement involving Obi, who is expected to lead the party’s campaign as it prepares for the 2027 presidential election.
“The NDC Leadership has announced a new date for the unveiling and inauguration of its National Campaign Council (NCC) earlier slated for Tuesday, 20th October, 2026. The event will now be held on Monday, 26th October, 2026,” the statement read.
The party explained that the change was occasioned by the “very tight schedule” of its presidential candidate, who has an important engagement abroad.
The NDC apologised to those who might be affected by the change and urged its members, supporters and other stakeholders to remain committed to its political objectives.
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this shift and urge everyone not to lose focus on the goal of ensuring victory for our presidential candidate and all NDC candidates in the forthcoming presidential and general elections,” the statement added.
Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are positioning themselves as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement also comes amid a growing disagreement between the NDC and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the opposition’s strategy for challenging President Bola Tinubu in the next presidential election.
On Sunday, Kwankwaso declared that Obi would not withdraw from the presidential race in favour of the ADC or any other political party.
The former Kano State governor made the declaration in a statement posted on X while responding to criticism from the ADC Presidential Campaign Council over his recent comments about the opposition’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
Kwankwaso accused the ADC campaign team of directing unnecessary attacks at him, Obi and the NDC instead of concentrating on presenting its own candidate to Nigerians.
He also rejected allegations that the NDC was working for Tinubu and the ruling APC, insisting that his party remained committed to contesting the presidential election.
“I have noted with deep concern the conduct of the ADC campaign team. The attacks directed at me, our presidential candidate His Excellency Peter Obi, and our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are unnecessary and unhelpful,” Kwankwaso said.
He accused the ADC Presidential Campaign Council of attempting to create confusion around the NDC’s presidential ambition rather than highlighting the competence and qualifications of its own candidate.
“Rather than focusing on presenting the competence, credibility, and capacity of their own candidate as we have consistently done by placing our credentials and record of achievements before Nigerians, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council appears intent on creating mischief against our party and ticket,” he stated.
Kwankwaso further alleged that the ADC campaign team was attempting to portray the NDC as an ally of the ruling party and suggest that Obi might withdraw from the presidential race at the last minute in favour of the ADC candidate.
He rejected the possibility of such a move, stressing that the NDC would not abandon its presidential ambition.
“We are aware that the ADC-PCC may try to mislead our supporters on the eve of the election by claiming that we intend to withdraw in their favour. Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party. We remain confident in our capacity, competence, and readiness to lead Nigeria,” he said.
The dispute followed comments by the ADC Presidential Campaign Council Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, who accused Kwankwaso of advancing Tinubu’s political interests by urging former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to step down for Obi.
Ologbondiyan made the allegation in a statement on Friday while reacting to Kwankwaso’s interview on Channels Television.
The ADC spokesman described Kwankwaso’s intervention as self-serving and argued that it could deepen divisions within the opposition at a time when parties were expected to work together to challenge the APC in 2027.
He also questioned why Kwankwaso was concentrating on opposition leaders rather than criticising the Tinubu administration over economic hardship, hunger, poverty and insecurity.
