2027: OK Movement, NDC clash over campaign council

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress have clashed over the 59-member presidential campaign council recently unveiled by the movement to mobilise support for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.

The dispute followed the NDC’s rejection of the council, with its national chairman, Moses Cleopas, saying the body did not emanate from the party and warning that no support group was authorised to constitute or announce a campaign structure in the party’s name without approval from its National Working Committee.

The OK Movement, however, rejected the position, insisting that it remained an independent political organisation with its own leadership, structure and internal processes.

The movement also demanded an immediate apology from Cleopas over what it described as defamatory statements.

In a statement by its national secretary, Saadatu Sani, the OK Movement gave the warning in Abuja on Sunday.

Sani described the position of the NDC chairman as unfortunate, saying that it reflected a misunderstanding of the movement’s character and independence.

He urged Cleopas to familiarise himself with the NDC constitution before making assertions about the rights and responsibilities of the movement.

She said, “The OK Movement does not engage in such politics. We will not be dragged into a politics of personal insults, intimidation or defamatory exchanges. We will continue to educate rather than abuse.

“We will continue to defend the principles upon which this movement was established.

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“The NDC national chairman is therefore called upon to withdraw the statements considered defamatory and to tender an immediate apology to the OK Movement and to our Director General, Hon. John Ughulu.”

The movement said it recognised the supremacy of political parties within their constitutional and statutory spheres and would campaign for Obi and Kwankwaso as well as NDC candidates that it resolves to support across the country.

The group, however, insisted that such support did not make it a subordinate structure of the party.

“We will campaign for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party. We will campaign for candidates of the NDC across the country where the movement has resolved to support them.

“But we do not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising our legitimate organisational functions,” Sani said.

According to her, the movement had developed a nationwide grassroots structure with an internal database representing approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators.

She emphasised that the movement was not a temporary support group created for the 2027 elections but an organisation with a long-term political vision.

The OK Movement secretary also rejected allegations concerning Ughulu’s involvement in the Lagos State primary and said they welcomed the opportunity to put their position on record.

Sani said they would not engage in what she described as personal insults, intimidation or defamatory exchanges, adding that they would continue to defend its members when their integrity was questioned.