The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has rejected the Nigeria Democratic Congress’ position that the group required the party’s approval to constitute a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement said it remained an independent organisation with its own leadership, structure and internal processes, despite its support for the NDC presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The OK Movement’s National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, stated this in a statement on Sunday in response to the NDC’s decision to dissociate itself from the campaign council announced by the group last Thursday.
The council, announced by the movement, appointed its Director-General, John Ughulu, as Director-General of the campaign structure, while Sani was named secretary. The structure also includes zonal and state coordinators and directors responsible for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.
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However, NDC National Chairman, Cleopas Moses, said the party had not authorised the campaign council and urged the public and media to disregard it.
Moses maintained that only the party leadership could constitute and announce an official Presidential Campaign Council, warning individuals, candidates and support groups against creating structures in the party’s name without approval from the National Working Committee.
Responding, Sani argued that the OK Movement did not require the personal approval or validation of any individual within the NDC to carry out its organisational activities.
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She said the movement recognised the authority of political parties within their constitutional and statutory spheres but maintained that the OK Movement was not an organ of the NDC.
According to her, the movement would continue mobilising support for Obi and Kwankwaso, as well as other NDC candidates in areas where it had resolved to support them.
Sani also said the movement was not seeking political appointments or positions within the NDC as a condition for its support.
On the controversy involving Ughulu and allegations connected with the Lagos State primary, she said the matter required clarification and that the movement would defend its members when their integrity was questioned.
She, however, said the group would not engage in personal attacks or defamatory exchanges.
The OK Movement subsequently demanded that Moses withdraw statements it considered defamatory and apologise to the organisation and Ughulu.
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The disagreement has now brought into focus the relationship between the NDC’s formal party structures and independent support organisations campaigning for its candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
