The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has proposed October 20 to inaugurate its presidential campaign council.

The party says consultations with Peter Obi and running mate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso delayed the process.

National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas said the leadership wants the right people in strategic positions ahead of the 2027 general election.

He spoke after a two-day meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), where he reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

Cleopas said a blueprint for the council has been prepared, but the party will not proceed without the two candidates.

“Constitution and inauguration of presidential campaign council is a responsibility of the party at the highest level. But the party itself cannot do that without recourse to the presidential candidate and the vice-presidential candidate,” he said.

Cleopas said the wait was necessary to avoid appointing officials whose loyalty could be questioned.

“It is better to get it right. It is a sensitive election that we are going into, and we must check characters,” he said.

He warned that officials with divided loyalties could undermine the campaign.

“It is not today you are going to have one DG of your campaign and in the middle of the campaign you will hear that your DG is one leg in NDC, one leg somewhere else. It will jeopardise the whole hope of this country,” he said.

The October 20 meeting will also feature the issuance of certificates of return to the party’s candidates and a dinner to strengthen cooperation among them.

Cleopas dismissed suggestions of division over the ticket. He insisted the leadership and party structures remain firmly behind the candidates.

He described Obi and Kwankwaso as a combination capable of appealing to Nigerians across religious, ethnic and regional lines.

The chairman also defended the decision to skip a competitive presidential primary.

“We were clear on the direction we were going, and no regrets,” he said.

He rejected claims that national leader Senator Henry Seriake Dickson was unwilling to support the ticket because he did not emerge as its presidential candidate.

According to Cleopas, Dickson declined to use the party he helped establish to pursue his own presidential ambition.

Beyond the council, the NDC said it has begun recruiting polling agents and preparing to monitor the electoral process.

Cleopas said the party is coordinating candidates and stakeholders across constituencies to ensure adequate representation at polling units.

“My deputy chairman, South, is the chairman of a committee. We are not waiting for INEC to tell us before we run around. We are already working in advance on party agents,” he said.

He maintained that winning votes would not be enough without ensuring they are properly counted and recorded.

“We are convinced that if it is the votes to win the 2027 general elections, we have them,” he said.

Cleopas urged voters to stay vigilant after casting their ballots and to support legitimate efforts to protect their votes.

He said the party will intensify voter education and organisational preparations as it builds its campaign structure for 2027.