OK Movement insists PCC structure remains unchanged

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The NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, (BBC)

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Group rejects NDC’s authority to dissolve, alter its campaign council

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By Henry Umoru

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ABUJA — The OK Movement, a political support platform associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, has insisted that its 59-member Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) remains valid and operational despite the party’s rejection of the structure.

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The movement said its PCC, which was constituted and announced last week, would not be altered, dissolved or subjected to the approval of the NDC leadership or any individual within the party.

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The position followed a statement by the NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, disowning the PCC announced by the OK Movement and directing members of the public and the media to disregard it.

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However, in a statement on Friday, the National Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ozyl Ughulu, maintained that the movement was an independent political organisation with its own leadership, principles and organisational structure.

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Ughulu said the existence and internal structure of the movement did not require the validation or approval of NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, or any other party leader.

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“The OK Movement wishes to reaffirm, unequivocally, that its position remains unchanged. The Presidential Campaign Council structure already constituted and announced by the OK Movement remains valid and operational, irrespective of the position or opinion of any individual leader of the party or presidential candidate,” he said.

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According to him, the movement recognised candidates contesting under the NDC platform as potential beneficiaries of its grassroots mobilisation structure, but none should consider himself or herself superior to others because of political position, office or proximity to the party leadership.

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Ughulu stressed that the movement had never claimed superiority over the NDC, noting that the party was a political organisation with its own constitutional structures, while the OK Movement had its own organisational framework.

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“The NDC Party is a political party with its own constitutional structures, while the OK Movement is an independent political organisation with its own principles, values, leadership and organisational framework,” he said.

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He also said the movement had neither required nor received financial support from Obi or the NDC to establish or operate its organisational structure.

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“There is no provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, nor any provision of the NDC Party Constitution brought to our attention, that automatically vests exclusive authority in a political party or its candidate to determine the internal organisational structure of an independent political organisation,” he said.

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Ughulu added that while the NDC had the right to constitute its own campaign structures, the OK Movement equally had the right to organise and manage its affairs within the limits of the law.

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He said the movement would resist what he described as any attempt to “undermine, appropriate, dissolve or otherwise interfere” with its structure and leadership.

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“Our position is not about confrontation. It is about clarity, institutional respect and the protection of organisational independence,” he said.

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“If the party chooses to work with the principles, values and structures of the OK Movement, we remain prepared to engage constructively. However, the movement cannot be compelled to abandon its principles or organisational identity in order to satisfy the ambitions or preferences of any individual or group.”

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The dispute followed the announcement by the OK Movement last Thursday of a 59-member PCC comprising zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors for mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.

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The movement said the campaign council would coordinate mobilisation and engagement across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, the movement said the PCC would take its message and programme to Nigerians across states, local government areas, wards and communities.

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The council is headed by Ughulu as Director-General, while Sani serves as National Secretary.

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Six zonal coordinators were also announced: 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.

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Ibrahim Jabir was named FCT Coordinator, while Maiyaki Samson, Tokji Mandim, Yusuf Abdullahi, Aliyu Tershaku, Awal Goma and Kazeem Olawuyi were appointed coordinators for Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger and Kwara respectively.

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The movement also announced coordinators for other states across the North West and North East.

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Reacting to the announcement on Saturday, however, NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, said the PCC did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded.

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In a statement titled, “Re: Purported OK Movement PCC Announcement,” Moses said the party had dissociated itself from the structure.

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He said candidates contesting on the NDC platform were not independent candidates but products of the party and remained subject to its authority and discipline.

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“Therefore, only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council, PCC,” he said.

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Moses further warned that no member, candidate or support group should undermine or demarket the party, adding that no individual or group was authorised to announce, constitute or publish any campaign council, structure or organ in the name of the party without prior approval from the National Working Committee.

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The exchange has brought into the open differences between the NDC leadership and the OK Movement over the authority to constitute campaign structures ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

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