NDC Unveils Campaign Council, Presents Certificate of Return to Candidates

***Party to Present Financial Account at Meeting, Challenges Others to do Same

***80% of Our Candidates Got Free Nomination Forms Amidst APC Hunger, Poverty

By Okechukwu Eze, Abuja

In a decisive move ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has fixed today, for its Third National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where it will formally unveil its National Campaign Council.

The high-stakes meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the JD Event Centre, Kashim Ibrahim Way, Maitama, Abuja, will also see the party present Certificates of Return to its candidates across the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly seats.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Osa Director, who announced the programme in a statement over the weekend, said the meeting would be the most defining gathering of the party since its formation.

Beyond campaigns, the NDC said it will break the culture of secrecy in party funding.

In a move described as unprecedented in Nigerian party politics, the National Treasurer will publicly present the party’s Statement of Account at the NEC meeting as a demonstration of its commitment to transparency and accountability.

The party threw a direct challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other opposition parties to follow suit and open their financial books for public scrutiny.

“For the NDC, it is no longer politics as usual,” Director said in the statement.

The party made a damning disclosure on the state of the nation, revealing that about 80 per cent of its candidates could not afford Expression of Interest forms due to the current economic hardship in the country and had to be given free forms.

The party blamed the situation on what it called widespread poverty, hunger and deprivation occasioned by the rudderless economic policies of the APC-led federal government.

According to the statement: “Contrary to speculations in the public domain, and due to the level of poverty, hunger and deprivation in the country occasioned by the rudderless APC and its amorphous economic policies, about 80% of our candidates could not afford the Expression of Interest forms. The party had to issue forms to such candidates free of charge.”

The NDC, however, said despite the economic headwinds, it is fully ready for the 2027 contest.

“The NDC is turbo-charged and ready to give Nigerians the altruistic leadership the nation deserves. A New Nigeria is Possible. We can do it!”