Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been appointed Deputy Chairman of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), placing the former governor at the centre of the opposition party’s campaign structure.
The appointment was announced on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, media aide to Atiku, as the ADC unveiled its campaign council ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Kashim Ibrahim-Imam was named chairman of the council, while Senator Austin Akobundu was appointed Director-General and Campaign Manager.
The appointments mark a further step in the efforts by the ADC and its coalition partners to establish a nationwide political structure ahead of the elections.
The campaign council said its agenda would focus on issues including the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power, placing economic and security concerns at the centre of its campaign messaging.
El-Rufai’s appointment also gives him a prominent organisational role in Atiku’s presidential bid, following his involvement in the political coalition that preceded the emergence of the ADC as a platform for opposition politicians.
From PDP to ADC
Atiku’s latest political move followed years of political activity within the PDP, where he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Before joining the ADC, Atiku resigned from the PDP as opposition politicians began discussions around forming a broader political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
Atiku had previously left the PDP and contested the 2007 presidential election under the Action Congress before returning to the PDP.
He served as vice president from 1999 to 2007 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
His political career has therefore spanned several parties and political alignments, with the 2027 election marking another phase in his attempt to secure the presidency.
El-Rufai, on the other hand, emerged as one of the prominent figures associated with the opposition coalition following his tenure as Kaduna governor.
He governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 after previously serving as minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
His tenure in Kaduna was marked by programmes in infrastructure, education, public-sector reforms and urban development, alongside political controversies and criticism over some of his administration’s policies.
After leaving office in 2023, El-Rufai remained active in national political discussions, particularly on issues concerning governance, the economy and the direction of opposition politics.
Coalition takes shape
The emergence of the ADC campaign structure is part of a broader effort by opposition politicians to create an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
The coalition has brought together politicians with different political backgrounds and previous affiliations, including figures who have operated within the PDP, APC and other political platforms.
The development has also placed the ADC at the centre of discussions over opposition coordination ahead of the election, although the strength and structure of the emerging alliance will depend on its ability to establish party structures and campaign networks across the country.
With the unveiling of the campaign council, the party has now begun assigning specific responsibilities to senior figures involved in its presidential campaign.
Ibrahim-Imam, as chairman, will provide leadership for the council, while Akobundu will coordinate its day-to-day campaign activities as Director-General and Campaign Manager.
El-Rufai’s position as deputy chairman puts him among the senior figures expected to participate in coordinating the campaign and advancing the coalition’s political message.
Focus on economy, insecurity
The campaign council has identified the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power among the major issues it intends to place before voters.
These issues have remained central to political debate in Nigeria, with political parties expected to present competing approaches to economic management, job creation, security and household welfare as the 2027 election approaches.
The ADC is expected to use the campaign period to communicate its policy proposals while expanding its structures across the states.
For Atiku, the campaign represents another stage in his long-running presidential ambition, while El-Rufai’s appointment gives the former Kaduna governor a formal role in the organisation of the bid.
The development is also expected to test how effectively the coalition can translate the political relationships among its leading figures into a coordinated nationwide campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.