Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communications to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has explained the exclusion of National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola and National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi from the party’s Presidential Campaign Council.
In an interview with The Nation, Shaibu said the two national officers were not included because they serve on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), the body responsible for constituting the campaign structure.
“These are National Working Committee (NWC) members who constituted the campaign council. Every directorate has a duty. Every director has an assignment. Every appointee must account for results,” Shaibu stated.
The names of Aregbesola and Abdullahi were absent from the list of council members released on Thursday.
The campaign council features several high-profile figures, including Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Rotimi Amaechi, ADC National Chairman David Mark, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. El-Rufai remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) while facing trial.
Other members of the council include former presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor Professor Kingsley Moghalu, Senator Dino Melaye, and former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie.