A fresh crisis is brewing within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following the decision of the party’s national leadership to disown the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council unveiled by the OK Movement in support of the party’s presidential ticket.
The OK Movement, a political platform established to mobilise support for the joint presidential ticket of Peter Obi and his running mate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, had on Thursday announced a campaign council comprising zonal and state coordinators ahead of the 2027 general elections.
But in a statement issued on Saturday, NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, said the structure did not receive the approval of the party and should therefore be disregarded.
The statement, titled “Re: Purported OK Movement PCC Announcement,” made it clear that the party would not recognise the campaign council announced by the group.
Moses said candidates contesting on the NDC platform must understand that they were not independent candidates but products of the party who remained subject to its authority and discipline.
He stressed that only the party leadership had the authority to constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council.
The NDC chairman further warned members, candidates and support groups against taking actions capable of undermining or demarketing the party.
He said no individual or group would henceforth be permitted to announce, constitute or publish any campaign council, structure or organ in the name of the NDC without prior approval from the National Working Committee (NWC).
The statement read in part:
“The leadership of our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has noted with concern a publication credited to one John Ugulu announcing a Presidential Campaign Council under the guise of ‘OK Movement.’
“For the avoidance of doubt, the party wishes to state categorically as follows:
“The party hereby dissociates itself in totality from the said OK Movement PCC announcement. It did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media.
“All candidates of the party must appreciate that they are not running as independent candidates. They are products of the party and remain subject to the authority and discipline of the party. Therefore, only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council PCC.
“No member, candidate, or support group should, under any guise, undermine the party or demarket the party.”
The party also directed that all campaign structures purportedly established in its name must receive prior approval from the NWC.
While distancing itself from the disputed council, the NDC acknowledged the contributions of support groups and encouraged them to continue supporting its political mission.
However, it warned that such groups must not regard themselves as alternative party structures or parallel organs.
The party also called for an end to what it described as unnecessary attacks against the NDC, advising members and support groups with grievances to channel them through appropriate internal mechanisms rather than taking their complaints to the public.
The statement further announced disciplinary action against Ugulu, citing what the party described as his “excesses” during the Lagos State primary election and his repeated disregard for party authority.
“For this act of affront and his excesses during the primary election in Lagos State, and for his repeated disregard for party authority, the party is constrained to enforce disciplinary measures against Mr. Ugulu,” the statement said.
It added that Ugulu had been referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party for necessary action in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
OK Movement’s Campaign Structure
The development followed Thursday’s unveiling of the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council by the OK Movement.
The group said the council was established to drive its mobilisation efforts for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the movement’s National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, the council was described as a nationwide campaign structure designed to take the movement’s message and programme to Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
John Ughulu was named Director-General, while Sani serves as National Secretary.
The movement also appointed six zonal coordinators: Suleiman Abubakar for North Central, Hashimu Dungurawa for North West, Amadu Gwambe for North East, Dr Adebayo Adefolaseye for South West, Christopher Ighodaro for South South and El-Shaddai Ikeh for South East.
Ibrahim Jabir was named FCT Coordinator.
State coordinators were also appointed for Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger and Kwara, with Maiyaki Samson, Tokji Mandim, Yusuf Abdullahi, Aliyu Tershaku, Awal Goma and Kazeem Olawuyi respectively named to the positions.
The movement said coordinators had also been appointed for Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kebbi and Katsina in the North West, as well as Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno in the North East.
The group also unveiled directors for mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other key areas.
With the NDC leadership now formally distancing itself from the structure, the development has created a clear disagreement over the authority and status of the OK Movement’s campaign council as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
