Names Emerge As ADC Prepares To Announce DG Of Atiku’s Campaign

The African Democratic Congress has reportedly narrowed its search for the Director-General of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council to two senior politicians including Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Senator Augustine Akobundu.

This comes as the party’s National Working Committee, led by David Mark, moves to constitute the campaign council for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi.

Party sources disclosed on Wednesday that either Tambuwal or Akobundu could be appointed to head the campaign organisation, which is expected to drive the ADC’s nationwide mobilisation ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.

Tambuwal, currently representing Sokoto South Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, has held several major political positions spanning the legislature and executive.

He served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 before becoming governor of Sokoto State, a position he held for two terms from 2015 to 2023.

The former lawmaker represented Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2015 and became the first opposition member to emerge Speaker of the House during the Fourth Republic.

A lawyer, Tambuwal was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Abuja.

His political journey has included membership of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.

He moved to the APC in 2014 before returning to the PDP in 2018. Tambuwal contested the PDP presidential primary in 2022 and subsequently joined the ADC in 2026.

His extensive political network and influence in the North-West are believed to be among the factors behind his consideration for the campaign leadership.

Akobundu, the other contender, represents Abia Central Senatorial District and entered the Senate after winning election in 2023.

A retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, he previously served as Minister of State for Defence and held senior positions in the PDP, including National Organising Secretary and National Vice Chairman, South-East.

Akobundu left the PDP in March 2026, citing “intractable crises” within the party, and subsequently joined the ADC.

The expected appointment of the campaign DG comes barely weeks after campaigns for presidential and National Assembly candidates officially commenced on August 19, 2026, in line with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to hold on January 16, 2027.

Meanwhile, Atiku has stepped up his criticism of the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, dismissing the increase in FAAC allocations as a “scam” that has failed to translate into improved welfare for Nigerians.

Atiku made the claim in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, and shared on X on Wednesday.

He argued that the rise in monthly FAAC disbursements was misleading when assessed against the depreciation of the naira, inflation and declining purchasing power.

According to him, the higher naira figures being distributed to the three tiers of government did not necessarily mean that governments had become financially stronger in real terms.

Atiku cited FAAC distributions of approximately N7.85tn in 2019 and N21.9tn in 2025, arguing that while the nominal allocation almost tripled, its dollar value dropped from about $25.6bn to roughly $14.6bn.

“That is not an economic miracle. That is money illusion,” Atiku said.

He added that the government could not rely on larger naira figures to demonstrate economic progress while Nigerians continued to contend with rising prices and reduced purchasing power.

Tinubu has previously identified increased FAAC allocations as one of the benefits of removing the petrol subsidy, saying the policy had enabled state governments to receive substantially higher monthly allocations.