2027 elections: Moghalu rejects Atiku’s campaign appointment

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has rejected his inclusion in the policy team of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Moghalu said he was neither consulted nor asked to consent to the use of his name before Atiku’s campaign announced him as a member of the presidential candidate’s Policy Team.

He made this known in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, shortly after Atiku’s campaign unveiled its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

The announcement listed Moghalu among members of the Policy Team, which is chaired by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi serving as deputy chairman.

Moghalu denies involvement

Reacting to the announcement, Moghalu said he was surprised to see his name included in the campaign structure, insisting that he had not agreed to participate in Atiku’s presidential campaign.

“I am surprised to see a statement from @atiku and @ADCNigeria campaign team including my name as a member of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s policy team for the 2027 presidential campaign,” he said.

The former CBN deputy governor stressed that he was not consulted before the announcement and did not authorise the campaign to identify him as a member of its policy team.

“For the record: 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,” Moghalu stated.

He further clarified that his non-involvement extended beyond formal membership, saying he was not serving as an unofficial or advisory member of the team.

“I am NOT, in fact, a member of Atiku’s policy team, even unofficially or in any advisory capacity,” he added.

‘I have quit partisan politics’

Moghalu, who contested the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, said he had withdrawn from partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022.

He said he had maintained a non-partisan position in the country’s political affairs and was not affiliated with any political party.

“I have quit partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022. I have maintained, and continue to maintain, my non-partisan posture in our country’s national affairs.

“I am not a member or sympathiser of any political party in Nigeria,” he said.

The economist explained that remaining outside partisan politics did not mean he had abandoned his interest in the affairs of Nigeria.

According to him, his commitment to the country could be expressed through other avenues without being tied to a political party or electoral campaign.

“I remain committed to my country, Nigeria and its progress, but such commitment does not have to entail ANY partisan alignment.

“I have adopted the path of statesmanship, not partisanship,” he said.

Atiku unveils campaign structure

Moghalu’s clarification came on the same day Atiku’s campaign unveiled its campaign structure for the 2027 presidential election.

The former Vice-President named Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, while former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was appointed deputy chairman.

Senator Austin Akobundu was named Director-General and Campaign Manager of the campaign.

The campaign also announced the establishment of a Policy Team tasked with developing proposals around some of the major issues highlighted by the campaign.

The areas listed include the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.

The announcement of the campaign structure marks part of Atiku’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, in which he is expected to contest on the platform of the ADC.

Moghalu’s current engagements

Moghalu said his decision to remain outside partisan politics had allowed him to focus on policy and other areas of national development.

He currently serves as president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, IGET Africa, which he described as a non-partisan public policy think tank and executive education academy.

He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Sogato Strategies, a geopolitical risk and regulatory strategy advisory firm.

Moghalu’s latest statement therefore places his position clearly outside the campaign structure announced by Atiku, despite his name initially appearing among members of the Policy Team.