The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Seriake Dickson, has appointed Sani Takori, VinMartin Ilo and Steve Nwosu as political adviser, chief technical adviser and spokesman, respectively.

According to a statement by NDC spokesman Osa Director, the appointments, which took effect immediately, aim to strengthen operations, administration, and strategic communication around Mr Dickson and the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mr Takori, a lawyer, began his career in the old Sokoto state and later served as registrar, magistrate, solicitor-general, attorney general, and commissioner for justice in Zamfara.

An alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Mr Takori served in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007.

The statement described Mr Takori as a committed party man, noting that he was the Zamfara governorship candidate of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance in the 2019 election.

He is a founding member of the NDC and served as its pro tem national secretary when the party was registered.

Mr Takori, a former local government chairman, also served as national legal adviser to the Council of Ulamas and chief legal officer of the Nigerian Electoral Commission.

He was secretary of the Yarima Presidential Campaign in 2007, having served in the same capacity in 2003.

The 68-year-old politician and lawyer hails from Gummi council area of Zamfara.

Mr Ilo is a media executive, broadcast journalist and development and international relations expert with experience in broadcasting, public service, strategic communications and development consultancy.

An alumnus of the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Mr Ilo holds degrees in Mass Communication, Development Studies, and International Relations and Strategic Studies.

He began his career with Radio Nigeria, where he rose to become a network newscaster before joining Africa Independent Television. He retired from AIT in 2013 as a director.

Mr Ilo served as special adviser on media to the governor of Enugu and as a member of the governing board of the National Broadcasting Commission. Until his appointment, he was president and CEO of Signature TV. He hails from Enugu.

Mr Nwosu, a long-standing associate of Mr Dickson, is a multi-platform journalist, media administrator, consultant and political communication strategist. He is a columnist and writer of the syndicated satirical weekly column, FRANKTALK.

A graduate of the University of Nigeria and Lagos Business School, Mr Nwosu has over 30 years’ experience in journalism and media entrepreneurship.

He worked with The Guardian and THISDAY newspapers. He was editor of THISDAY on Saturday.

Mr Nwosu joined The Sun Newspapers at inception as pioneer editor of Saturday Sun. He later became editor of Daily Sun, executive director of corporate services, deputy managing director and deputy editor-in-chief. He later established The Nigerian Xpress Newspaper and briefly served at PLUS TV Africa as controller of news. Mr Nwosu also served on the editorial boards of THISDAY and The Sun newspapers.

He is currently the managing director and editor-in-chief of Edibofa Communication and Publishing, owners of People’s FM 105.5 Abuja, People’s FM 93.1 Yenagoa, Universal Television Africa and The Nigerian Xpress Newspaper.

For eight years, he served on the standing committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, first as a representative of the West Zone and later as treasurer.

The statement said the briefs of the three appointees would cover Mr Dickson’s activities as NDC’s leader and as a serving senator.

(NAN)