By Ado Oyeyemi
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has rejected his appointment to the policy team of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Moghalu, in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, said he was neither consulted nor sought for consent before his name was included in the campaign team unveiled by Atiku.
His reaction followed the announcement of the former Vice-President’s Presidential Campaign Council, where Moghalu was listed among members of the Policy Team.
The team is headed by economist and banker, Mohammed Hayatudeen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi serving as deputy chairman.
Moghalu said he was surprised by the announcement, stressing that he had not agreed to serve in any capacity on Atiku’s campaign team.
He said, “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Moghalu, who contested the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, said he had withdrawn from partisan politics since 2022 and remained non-partisan in his involvement in national affairs.
He added that he was neither a member nor a sympathiser of any political party in Nigeria.
The former CBN deputy governor said his current engagements included serving as president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, 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.
Moghalu stressed that his decision to stay outside partisan politics should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from national affairs, saying he remained committed to Nigeria’s progress.
“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.
The clarification came after Atiku’s campaign unveiled its structure on Thursday, with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam named chairman, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as deputy chairman, and Senator Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager.
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According to the campaign, the Policy Team is expected to develop proposals addressing major challenges, including the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.
