Precious Nwonu, Enugu
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s decision to appoint former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to his 2027 Presidential Campaign Council was partly aimed at recognising what he described as El-Rufai’s political sacrifices.
Momodu, who serves as Deputy Director-General of the campaign’s Media and Communications Directorate, spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s *The Morning Brief* on Friday.
Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate, unveiled his campaign council on Thursday, appointing Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman and El-Rufai as deputy chairman. Senator Austin Akobundu was named Director-General and Campaign Manager.
Explaining El-Rufai’s inclusion, Momodu said the appointment was a way of acknowledging the former Kaduna governor’s political experience and what he described as the difficulties he had faced.
Momodu also pointed to El-Rufai’s return to Nigeria despite the legal proceedings involving him, arguing that the former governor could have remained outside the country but chose to return.
El-Rufai is currently facing legal proceedings and has denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations against him. Reports on the case have also noted that he remains involved in proceedings concerning allegations linked to his time in public office.
Commenting on the bail conditions attached to El-Rufai’s case, Momodu described them as excessive and questioned what he considered the former governor’s treatment by the authorities.
Momodu further credited El-Rufai with playing an important role in the political developments that preceded the 2023 presidential election, claiming that his contribution was significant to President Bola Tinubu’s emergence.
That claim represents Momodu’s political assessment and was not independently established by the campaign council announcement.
El-Rufai’s appointment places him among several prominent political figures assembled by Atiku as the ADC builds its campaign structure ahead of the 2027 general election.
The council includes former All Progressives Congress National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, who was named chairman of the Campaign Advisory Board, while Momodu will oversee Media and Communications and former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye will lead Contact and Mobilisation.
The campaign structure comprises six operational directorates, with 30 directors assigned specific responsibilities. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen will coordinate the Policy Team, while former governors and other political figures are also included in the wider campaign structure.
The unveiling of the council comes as political parties and their candidates begin preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with the ADC campaign saying its structure would focus on issues including the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.