Obi, Kwankwaso, Dickson arrive for NDC NEC meeting

The Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi; his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso; and the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, arrived in Abuja on Monday for the party’s National Executive Committee meeting, ahead of the inauguration of its National Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, holding in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory, attracted NDC candidates, senior political figures, party leaders and supporters from across the country.

The arrival of the three prominent figures underscored the significance of the meeting as the opposition party steps up preparations for the 2027 elections.

Dickson and the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, received a rousing welcome from supporters upon their arrival, while Obi and Kwankwaso were greeted with an in-house remix of Olamide’s hit track, Wo.

Obi, the former Anambra State governor, appeared in his customised all-black outfit, complete with a matching cap, while Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate and one of the party’s most influential figures, wore a white flowing babanriga and his traditional red-and-white Kwankwasiyya cap.

The NEC meeting is part of a series of activities scheduled by the NDC for Monday, including the commissioning of its newly acquired national secretariat in Abuja, the inauguration of its National Campaign Council and the presentation of Certificates of Return to its candidates for the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly elections.

The party is also scheduled to hold a dinner following the inauguration of the campaign council.

The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, disclosed the programme in a statement on Sunday, adding that the activities would also include the party’s third NEC meeting.

The party had earlier announced plans to unveil its campaign council and present its statement of account at the NEC meeting, describing the exercise as part of its commitment to transparency and accountability.

Director said the National Treasurer would present the party’s financial statement, noting that the NDC’s finances had been affected by the economic hardship in the country.

He also claimed that about 80 per cent of the party’s candidates could not afford Expression of Interest forms because of poverty, hunger and deprivation, prompting the party to issue the forms to affected aspirants free of charge.

The activities come as the NDC seeks to consolidate its structures and rally its candidates and supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.