Campaign Council: Moghalu rejects Atiku’s appointment

Professor Kingsley Moghalu has declined his inclusion in former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential campaign policy team. The Nigerian professor, a former Central Bank deputy governor, stated he was unaware of his name being listed on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) campaign council. Atiku, the ADC's presidential candidate, announced the team on Thursday with Moghalu among the policy team members led by Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

However, in a subsequent statement, Moghalu insisted he was neither officially nor unofficially a member. "I was not consulted and did not give my consent to my name being published as a member of the ADC candidate’s policy team," he declared. Moghalu announced his disengagement from Nigerian partisan politics in 2022, maintaining a non-partisan stance in national affairs.

He emphasized his dedication to Nigeria’s progress without any partisan alignment, stating, "I remain committed to my country, Nigeria and its progress, but such commitment does not have to entail ANY partisan alignment." This rejection followed Atiku’s unveiling of the campaign council, which includes Mohammed Ibrahim-Imam as chairman and Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman.

Other team members include Senator Austin Akobundu as director-general and campaign manager, and Hayatu-Deen as chairman of the policy team with Mohammed Sagagi as deputy chairman. The policy team is tasked with addressing issues such as the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity, and declining purchasing power. Moghalu's statement effectively removes him from the campaign structure despite his listed presence.