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 National Chairman, Cleopas Zuwoghe, announced the date on Saturday during a press conference in Abuja, explaining that consultations were ongoing with its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to finalise appointments to the campaign team.

Zuwoghe said the party had already prepared the council’s organisational structure but was carefully screening prospective members to ensure their commitment to the party and its electoral ambition.

He warned that appointing individuals whose loyalty was divided could undermine the campaign at a critical stage.

“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,” he said.

The NDC chairman added that the party was determined to avoid internal problems that could weaken its chances in the 2027 presidential election.

“And will jeopardise the whole hope of this country. So they have to check and double-check,” Zuwoghe stated.

He disclosed that the party had proposed a meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) for October 20, during which the campaign council would be formally inaugurated and certificates of return presented to candidates contesting on the NDC platform.

“We have proposed a NEC meeting for the 20th of this month, and today is the 10th,” he said.

“So on the 20th of this month, we shall have a NEC meeting, and in that next meeting, what we intend to achieve is to formally inaugurate our presidential campaign council. Also, as a party, to give certificates of return.”

According to Zuwoghe, the party also plans to organise a dinner for its candidates to strengthen cooperation and establish a common direction ahead of the elections.

He said the NDC intended to commence its campaign activities immediately after the inauguration, adding that the party had already begun engagements in different parts of the country.

“We’re the ones who give candidates tickets now. So we should be able to give our candidates certificates of return that these people are our party candidates. And we had intended to have a dinner with all our candidates to build synergy,” he said.

The chairman rejected suggestions that the party had been inactive, citing visits to Sokoto and Kaduna, with another engagement scheduled to take place in Enugu on October 15.

“But from that point, we can hit the ground running. But let me also let you know, the NDC has not been very silent, as some people would assume and say,” he added.

“We have been in Sokoto, we have been in Kaduna, on the 15th, we shall be in Enugu. So it is not to mean that we have not been working.”

Zuwoghe said the party would unveil its broader political strategy in the coming days, describing the NDC as an institution focused on long-term development and youth participation.

“And that pattern shall be unveiled in the next couple of days. As I said earlier, NDC is building an institution that shall uplift us. And that is why we are always very passionate about youth,” he said.