Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has appointed former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as Deputy Chairman of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections.
The appointment was announced on Thursday as the ADC unveiled its campaign structure ahead of the presidential election, with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam named Chairman of the National Campaign Council. Senator Austin Akobundu was appointed Director-General and Campaign Manager.
According to the campaign structure, El-Rufai will be responsible for high-level political coordination and engagement with key stakeholders across the country.
The council will operate through six major directorates, headed by Deputy Directors-General and supported by 30 directors with specific responsibilities.
Former Edo State Governor and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun, was named Chairman of the Campaign Advisory Council, while veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, will serve as Deputy Director-General in charge of Media and Communications.
Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, was also included in the campaign structure, with responsibility for national outreach, mobilisation and public engagement.
The policy team will be coordinated by economist and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi and Aare Aremijoye also listed as members.
The appointment of El-Rufai comes amid ongoing legal proceedings involving the former Kaduna governor. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that he remains in its custody under a court-authorised remand order in connection with an investigation involving allegations of money laundering and abuse of office. El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing.
He is also involved in separate proceedings arising from allegations concerning the interception of telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The campaign council announcement came a day after El-Rufai, in a statement issued from detention, reflected on his relationships with former associates and political allies.
In the statement titled “My Relationships and the Aftermath,” the former governor said his recent experience had prompted him to reassess some of his relationships, particularly the responses of people he had previously supported.
El-Rufai said he had supported individuals and causes he believed in without expecting praise or reciprocity, adding that people were free to decide how they would respond to his present circumstances.
He said difficult periods could reveal the nature of relationships and acknowledged that the experience might lead him to quietly reconsider some of his associations.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, El-Rufai has now been given a senior role in the ADC’s presidential campaign structure.
The unveiling of the campaign council marks another stage in the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with the party establishing defined roles for political coordination, mobilisation, communications and policy development.
