The presidential campaign council of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has suffered a surprise setback after a prominent figure listed on its policy team rejected the appointment, saying he was neither consulted nor asked to give his consent.
The development came shortly after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate unveiled his National Campaign Council and Presidential Campaign Management Committee ahead of the 2027 general election.
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Kingsley Moghalu, whose name appeared on the campaign’s policy team, disclosed his rejection in a statement published on his X handle on Friday.
Atiku had appointed Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as Chairman of the National Campaign Council and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as Deputy Chairman.
Moghalu was listed as part of the policy team headed by economist, banker and former presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, which the campaign said would develop practical policy responses to issues confronting Nigerians.
However, Moghalu said his inclusion came without his knowledge or approval.
“I am surprised to see a statement from @atiku and @ADCNig campaign team including my name as a member of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s policy team for the 2027 presidential campaign,” he wrote.
“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.
“I am NOT, in fact, a member of Atiku’s policy team, even unofficially or in any advisory capacity.”
Moghalu further stated that he had withdrawn from partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022 and had maintained a non-partisan position in the country’s national affairs.
“I am not a member or sympathizer of any political party in Nigeria,” he said.
Explaining his current engagements, the former CBN deputy governor said his work was centred on public policy and geopolitical risk and regulatory strategy.
“My primary engagement is as President of @IGETAfrica, a non-partisan public policy think tank and executive education academy, and as CEO of Sogato Strategies, a geopolitical risk and regulatory strategy advisory firm.”
Moghalu said his continued commitment to Nigeria should not be interpreted as alignment with any political party or candidate.
“I remain committed to my country, Nigeria and its progress, but such commitment does not have to entail ANY partisan alignment,” he said.
“I have adopted the path of statesmanship, not partisanship,” he added.
