The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has fixed October 20 for the inauguration of its presidential campaign council ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, will contest alongside Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, as his running mate.

NDC National Chairman, Cleopas Zuwoghe, disclosed this on Saturday at a press conference in Abuja, saying the party had prepared the council’s organisational structure but was consulting the two candidates on key appointments.

He explained that the party was taking time to scrutinise prospective appointees to ensure their loyalty, warning that individuals with divided political interests could jeopardise the campaign.

“It is a sensitive election that we are going into. And we must check characters. It is not today you appoint one DG of your campaign. And in the middle of the campaign, you will hear that your DG is one leg in the NDC, one leg somewhere else,” Zuwoghe said.

He added that the party would not compromise on the screening process, noting that all appointments must serve the interests of the NDC and its electoral ambition.

The chairman said the proposed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on October 20 would also feature the presentation of certificates of return to the party’s candidates and a gathering aimed at strengthening cooperation among them.

According to him, the party plans to organise a dinner for its candidates to build synergy and promote a common front ahead of the elections.

Zuwoghe also dismissed suggestions that the party had been inactive, disclosing that its engagements had taken it to Sokoto and Kaduna states, with a visit to Enugu scheduled for October 15.

He said the party would unveil its political strategy in the coming days, adding that the NDC was focused on building a sustainable political institution with youth participation at its core.

The development comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s announcement of campaign timelines for presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections.