Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, has disowned his appointment to the policy team of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Moghalu said he was neither consulted nor asked for his consent before his name was included in the campaign structure unveiled by Atiku’s team on Thursday.
The former CBN deputy governor made his position known in a statement issued hours after the ADC presidential campaign council announced its structure, listing him among those expected to contribute to its policy development.
According to the campaign, economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen would head the Policy Team, working with Professor Mohammed Sagagi and other members, including Moghalu.
However, Moghalu rejected the announcement, saying he was surprised to see his name associated with Atiku’s 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,” he said.
He further clarified that he was not part of Atiku’s campaign team in any capacity.
“I am NOT, in fact a member of Atiku’s policy team, even unofficially or in any advisory capacity,” Moghalu stated.
He said he had withdrawn from partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022 and had continued to maintain a non-partisan position in the country’s affairs
“I am not a member or sympathizer of any political party in Nigeria,” he added.
Moghalu explained that his current professional engagements were focused on public policy and geopolitical risk rather than partisan political activities.
He declared himself as President of IGET Africa, a non-partisan public policy think tank and executive education academy, as well as chief executive officer of Sogato Strategies, a geopolitical risk and regulatory strategy advisory firm.
The economist stressed that his commitment to Nigeria should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party or candidate.
“I remain committed to my country, Nigeria and its progress, but such commitment does have to entail ANY partisan alignment,” he said.
“I have adopted the path of statesmanship, not partisanship.”
Moghalu’s rejection came shortly after Atiku unveiled a campaign structure headed by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as Chairman, with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as Deputy Chairman and Senator Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager.
The campaign said the structure would operate through six major directorates and 30 directors, with the stated aim of keeping the organisation lean and assigning specific responsibilities to its members.
Meanwhile, the ADC has suffered another setback following the resignation of its former governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonte Ibraye, who quit the party over its prolonged leadership crisis and unresolved legal disputes surrounding its internal structures and processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ibraye, who contested the Rivers State governorship election on the ADC platform in 2023, announced his resignation in a letter dated September 24, 2026, addressed to the ADC Ward Chairman, Degema Ward 16, Bille, Rivers State.
He said he had remained committed to the party and its principles of internal democracy, fairness and respect for duly constituted party structures, but recent developments had made his continued membership untenable.
Ibraye alleged that attempts by some new entrants to displace legitimately constituted party executives across the country had further deepened the crisis and raised concerns about the future direction of the party.
He also raised concerns over the leadership dispute involving the faction led by former Senate President David Mark, particularly its exercise of authority over party structures and electoral processes while related legal disputes remain unresolved.
According to him, the controversy could have far-reaching implications for candidates who emerge from electoral processes conducted under a disputed party leadership.
