Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has rejected the presidential campaign council recently constituted by the Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, saying the structure was formed without his approval.
Gatekeepers News reports that Obi spoke on Thursday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, amid a disagreement between the NDC leadership and the support group over the 59-member campaign council unveiled on September 17.
The OK Movement had announced the council to mobilise support for Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The structure included zonal and state coordinators as well as directors responsible for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security and legal affairs.
However, the NDC subsequently distanced itself from the council. Its National Chairman, Cleopas Moses, said the structure did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and media.
Commenting on the development, Obi said the NDC remained the political party to which he, Kwankwaso and their supporters belonged, while the OK Movement and other groups should operate as support organisations.
“First, NDC is the political party we all belong to. And I agree entirely with the position of the leader (Seriake Dickson),” Obi said.
“OK Movement, Obidient group, Kwankwasiyya, and other support groups are supporting groups. They must play their role as support groups, supporting the party.”
He added that support groups should not assume the functions of 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,” Obi said.
When asked whether the OK Movement campaign council had been formed with his knowledge or approval, Obi said he was not consulted.
“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.
Obi’s position followed criticism from Seriake Dickson, NDC national leader, who had said support groups should focus on grassroots mobilisation rather than establish structures that perform the functions of the party.
“Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy and space,” Dickson said.
The OK Movement, however, rejected the NDC’s position, maintaining that it is an independent organisation with its own leadership and organisational processes. National Secretary Saadatu Sani said the movement did not require approval from an individual within the NDC to carry out its organisational functions.
“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 dispute has created a disagreement over the role of support groups within NDC’s structure as it the party prepares for the 2027 presidential election. NDC has maintained that its leadership is responsible for constituting its official Presidential Campaign Council, while the OK Movement has insisted on its independence.
