The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has said it will retain its independent organisational structure and will not allow its national, state, local government or ward structures to be absorbed into the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, made the position known while reacting to comments by NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, concerning the role of support groups in the party’s campaign activities. (Punch Newspapers)
Dickson had argued that support groups should complement the political party rather than establish parallel structures that could compete with the party’s official campaign machinery. He also questioned the decision of the OK Movement to constitute a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council.
However, Ughulu said the OK Movement should not be treated as an ordinary support group or an appendage of the NDC. He described it as an independently organised political movement with its own leadership, structures and internal processes.
According to him, the movement comprises people from different political backgrounds who share support for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NDC presidential ticket for the 2027 election.
Ughulu maintained that the movement would continue to mobilise support for the candidates while retaining control of its internal administration and organisational structures.
He stressed that cooperation with the NDC did not amount to the surrender or transfer of the movement’s identity and structures to the party. (Punch Newspapers)
The disagreement followed the OK Movement’s unveiling of a 59-member campaign council on September 17. The council includes zonal and state coordinators as well as directors responsible for mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas. (KapitalFM 92.9 Abuja)
The NDC subsequently dissociated itself from the structure, with National Chairman Moses Cleopas saying the party’s National Working Committee did not authorise the movement to constitute or announce a campaign council in the party’s name. (thecable.ng)
Ughulu, however, said the movement respected the constitutional authority of the NDC over its own internal affairs but would resist any attempt to absorb or take control of the structures it had independently built.
The dispute has highlighted the ongoing debate over how political parties and grassroots movements supporting their candidates should coordinate their campaign activities ahead of the 2027 elections.