Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has rejected the 59-member presidential campaign council recently announced by the Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, saying the structure was created without his approval.
Obi made the clarification on Thursday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he addressed the disagreement between the NDC and the support group ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Anambra State governor said the NDC remains the political party to which he, his running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and their supporters belong.
He explained that the OK Movement, Obidient groups, Kwankwasiyya and other organisations should function as support groups and assist the party rather than take on the responsibilities of the NDC.
“First, NDC is the political party we all belong. And I agree entirely with the position of the leader (Seriake Dickson),” Obi said.
He added that support groups should not operate as though they were the political party.
“They should not play the role of the party. We’ve found a situation where one of the supporting groups is using the nomenclature, that is forming Presidential Campaign Council. It shouldn’t be. No,” he said.
Obi says he did not approve the council
Asked whether the OK Movement’s campaign council was created with his knowledge or approval, Obi said it was not.
“Not at all. And I say it here, it is wrong. You are supporting — OK Movement is Obi and Kwankwaso. So whatever you do must have express approval of both of us,” he said.
The OK Movement had unveiled the 59-member council on September 17, with its structure including zonal and state coordinators as well as directors responsible for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security and legal affairs. John Ughulu was named director-general, while Saadatu Sani was named secretary.
The NDC subsequently distanced itself from the council, with National Chairman Cleopas Moses saying the structure did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded.
Moses said only the party leadership could constitute and announce its presidential campaign council, and warned individuals and support groups against creating campaign structures in the party’s name without approval from the National Working Committee.
OK Movement disagrees with NDC
The OK Movement has rejected the NDC’s position, maintaining that it is an independent organisation with its own leadership and internal processes.
Its national secretary, Saadatu Sani, said the movement does not require the personal approval of any individual within the NDC to carry out its organisational activities.
“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,” Sani said.
The movement said it would continue to mobilise support for Obi and Kwankwaso, as well as other NDC candidates it decides to support.
Meanwhile, NDC national leader Seriake Dickson has also criticised the creation of a separate campaign council, arguing that support groups should complement political parties rather than assume their functions.
The NDC has since said Obi and Kwankwaso will have a role in nominating key officials for the party’s official presidential campaign council, in consultation with the party leadership.
