Moghalu Says No to Joining Atiku's Campaign Team

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has turned down an offer to be part of the policy team for the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 election.

Moghalu shared a statement on his X handle on Thursday. He mentioned that he was not consulted or asked for permission before his name was announced as part of Atiku’s campaign policy team.

His response came just hours after Atiku’s campaign revealed its Presidential Campaign Council, which included Moghalu in the Policy Team.

Mohammed Hayatudeen, an economist and banker, chairs the team. Professor Mohammed Sagagi serves as the deputy chairman.

“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.

“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 stated.

Moghalu was a presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the 2019 election. He mentioned that he left partisan politics in Nigeria in 2022.

“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.

He explained that he is currently involved in several roles. He is the president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, IGET Africa. He described it 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 emphasized that his choice to stay out of partisan politics does not mean he is not engaged with national issues.

“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.

This clarification follows the unveiling of Atiku’s campaign structure on Thursday. Kashim Ibrahim-Imam is the chairman, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is the deputy chairman, and Senator Austin Akobundu serves as Director-General and Campaign Manager.

The campaign announced that its Policy Team will create policy proposals to tackle issues like the high cost of living, unemployment, insecurity, and decreasing purchasing power.