Nigeria's NDC sets Oct. 20 campaign launch for Obi-Kwankwaso ticket

ABUJA, Oct 11 – Nigeria's opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will formally launch the campaign of presidential candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso on Oct. 20. Party officials also dismissed reports of a split in the party's leadership.

"In preparation for full campaign takeoff, we have proposed a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party on October 20," party chairman Moses Cleopas said in Abuja on Saturday, according to Punch. He said the party would launch its presidential campaign council at that meeting. [punchng](https://punchng.com/ndc-to-inaugurate-campaign-council-october-20/).

Cleopas denied reports that national leader Seriake Dickson was working against the two candidates. He said party branches nationwide remain behind the ticket, ThisDay reported. [thisdaylive](https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/11/ndc-dismisses-claims-of-division-over-obi-kwankwaso-presidential-ticket/).

The announcement follows weeks of friction with the OK Movement, a supporter group that set up its own campaign council. The group has since admitted it acted without due process. Under the settlement, Obi and Kwankwaso will pick the campaign's director-general and finance director ([Daily Trust](https://dailytrust.com/ndc-concedes-dg-campaign-council-to-obi-kwankwaso/)). [guardian](https://guardian.ng/politics/ndc-crisis-ok-movement-retreats-accuses-apc-of-plotting-against-obi/).

Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, has built his campaign around fighting corruption and growing domestic industry. He has said his ticket will not pay party agents to sway voters. [ground](https://ground.news/article/2027-we-wont-bribe-voters-party-agents-during-elections).

The ruling All Progressives Congress criticised Obi this week over a BBC interview. In it he said: "I won the last election. There's no evidence, but I won the election". [tvcnews](https://www.tvcnews.tv/apc-tackles-peter-obi-over-claim-he-won-2023-poll-without-evidence/).

Obi came third and Kwankwaso fourth in the 2023 presidential election. Their joint ticket brings together a southern Christian and a northern Muslim, a pairing analysts say could widen the opposition's reach. They face President Bola Tinubu, 74, and 16 other candidates in the Jan. 16 election. [premiumtimesng](https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/914520-2027-inec-to-address-nigerians-as-election-countdown-hits-100-days.html).