Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has denied joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, saying his name was included in the campaign’s policy team without his knowledge or consent.

Moghalu made the clarification in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, shortly after Atiku’s campaign unveiled its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

His name was listed among members of the Policy Team chaired by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi as deputy chairman.

“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.

“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 said.

Moghalu, who contested the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, said he withdrew from partisan politics in 2022 and remains unaffiliated with any political party.

“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 said.

He said his non-partisan stance had not stopped him from contributing to public policy and national discourse.

Moghalu currently serves as president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET Africa), a non-partisan public policy think tank and executive education academy. He is also Chief Executive Officer of Sogato Strategies, a geopolitical risk and regulatory strategy advisory firm.

Emphasising that his position did not amount to a lack of commitment to Nigeria, he said:

“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 followed the unveiling of Atiku’s 2027 campaign structure, with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman, and Senator Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager.

The campaign said its Policy Team would develop proposals addressing the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.