Moghalu Rejects Atiku Campaign Council Appointment, Gives Reason

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, has publicly rejected his inclusion in the policy team of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 election.

Moghalu, in a statement published on his verified X handle (@MoghaluKingsley) on Thursday, revealed that he was neither consulted nor gave his consent before his name was included on the campaign council list.

His reaction followed the official rollout of Atiku’s Presidential Campaign Council on Thursday, which listed Moghalu alongside other policy advisors under the Policy Team chaired by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen and co-chaired by Prof. Mohammed Sagagi.

“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,” Moghalu stated.

“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,” he added.

Moghalu, who flew the presidential flag for the Young Progressives Party (YPP) during the 2019 general elections, pointed out that he had permanently retired from partisan politics 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 clarified.

Highlighting his current public life, Moghalu noted that his professional focus remains on leading non-partisan policy institutions and strategy consultancies.

“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,” he explained.

The economist maintained that withdrawing from party politics does not diminish his commitment to national development.

“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 stated.

Moghalu’s denial came just hours after Atiku unveiled a campaign executive structure led by former Presidential Aide Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as Chairman, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as Deputy Chairman, and Senator Austin Akobundu as Campaign Manager.