The Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has pushed back against the dictate of the national leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over its recent constitution of a presidential campaign council.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the OK Movement said it does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual within the NDC before exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with established processes.
The OK Movement National Secretary Saadatu Sani, in the statement released in Abuja, rejected a statement credited ed to the NDC National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas, urging him to familiarise himself with NDC’s constitution before making assertions.
The OK Movement had, last Thursday, unveiled a 59-member presidential campaign council, with John Ughulu as National Director-General and Saadatu Sani as National Secretary.
However, NDC, in a statement issued on Saturday, distanced itself from the purported presidential campaign council, urging the public to disregard it.
The NDC itself is yet to constitute and formally unveil its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council. The party had indicated that consultations are ongoing and that the structure will be announced after the necessary approvals.
Sani, in the statement, said the movement recognised the supremacy of political parties within constitutional and statutory spheres, but maintained that it remained an independent organisation with its leadership and internal processes.
She insisted that the movement would campaign for the NDC presidential and vice-presidential candidates as well as other party candidates where it had resolved to support them.
“The OK Movement does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with established processes,” she said.
Sani said the movement was established from the grassroots and did not depend on sponsorship from any individual or political office holder for its activities.
She added that the movement was not seeking political appointments or positions within the NDC as a condition for its support, saying its principles remained its guiding values.
Sani said the movement had developed a nationwide grassroots structure, with internal membership records indicating approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators, supported by relevant data.
According to her, OK Movement is not a temporary support group created for an election cycle, but an organisation with philosophy, structure and long-term vision.
“We speak for Nigerians who are demanding a better political system, economic opportunity, accountability and a government that places citizens at the centre,” she said.
Sani also responded to allegations concerning Ughulu and his alleged involvement in the Lagos State primaries, saying the matter deserved clarification.
She said the movement would continue to defend members whenever their integrity was being questioned, while maintaining that it would not engage in personal insults or defamatory exchanges.
Sani called on the NDC national chairman to withdraw statements considered defamatory and apologise to the OK Movement and Ughulu.
“The OK Movement will not compromise its standards. The OK Movement will not surrender its independence. The OK Movement will not be intimidated,” she added.
Sani stated that the movement’s principles remained non-negotiable, stressing that its focus was on organisational values, independence, accountability and long-term objectives for Nigeria.
The NDC, while distancing itself from a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council announced by the OK Movement, described the structure as unauthorised and instructed the public and media to disregard it.
The campaign structure, according to the statement by the leadership of the OK Movement, was expected to operate independently of the campaign council to be constituted by the NDC, the political platform backing Obi’s presidential bid.
Taking a hard line against the OK Movement’s DG, the NDC announced disciplinary action against John Ughulu, citing what it called “this act of affront” and “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.
“He is hereby referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party for necessary action in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution,” the statement said.
It added that: “The party remains focused on its issue-based campaign and is committed to delivering a New Nigeria that is Possible.”
