Moghalu Rejects Atiku Campaign Role, Says He Was Not Consulted

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, has rejected his inclusion in the policy team of African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, saying he was neither consulted nor gave consent to serve on the team.

Moghalu’s clarification came on Thursday, shortly after Atiku’s campaign unveiled its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, listing the former CBN deputy governor among members of its Policy Team.

In a statement, Moghalu said he was surprised to see his name included in the campaign structure, insisting that he was not a member of Atiku’s policy team in any capacity.

“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 added: “I am NOT, in fact, a member of Atiku’s policy team, even unofficially or in any advisory capacity.”

Moghalu also said he had quit partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022 and had maintained a non-partisan position in the country’s national affairs.

“I am not a member or sympathizer of any political party in Nigeria,” he stated.

He explained that his current engagements include serving as President of IGET Africa, which he described as 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 continued commitment to Nigeria should not be interpreted as support for any political party or campaign.

“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.

Atiku’s campaign had announced economist and banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen as head of the Policy Team, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi as deputy chairman and Moghalu listed among the members.

The wider campaign council is chaired by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman and Senator Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager.