NDC Hit by Fresh Crisis…

September 21, () – Few hours after it secured an Appeal Court judgement restoring its registration, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has suffered a set-back as its leadership on Sunday clashed with the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, OKM, a political campaign group for the election of Peter Obi and Dr.Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential and vice presidential candidates of the party in the 2027 general election.

Last week, on Thursday, the OK movement officially unveiled a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council to coordinate its nationwide mobilisation for the upcoming poll in January and February. The structure announced by its national secretary, Saadatu Sani, is composed of zonal and state coordinators as well as directors overseeing critical areas of the campaign.

However, the party leadership at the weekend reacted against the move. It disowned the “purported Presidential Campaign Council announced by the “OK Movement” for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, directing its convener, John Ugulu, to face the party’s disciplinary organ.

NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, said the campaign council was neither authorised nor constituted by its leadership and urged the public and the media to disregard the list.

According to the party, only its National Working Committee has the authority to constitute or announce a Presidential Campaign Council or any other formal structure in its name. It warned members and support groups against creating or publicising structures without the approval of the NWC.

“All NDC candidates are products of the party and not independent actors,” the statement said, stressing that campaign structures must operate within the party’s established framework.

The party said it welcomed various support groups but warned that such groups must not operate as parallel structures or present themselves as alternative organs of the NDC. It also urged members with grievances to use the party’s internal mechanisms rather than resorting to public confrontation. The NDC said Ugulu’s referral to its disciplinary organ was linked to what it described as his “act of affront” and “excesses” during the party’s Lagos State primary, as well as what it called a pattern of disregard for party authority.

NDC said it remained committed to building a party based on internal discipline and an issue-driven campaign.

It reiterated its vision of delivering what it described as “a New Nigeria that is POssible.

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Reacting swiftly on Sunday, the OK Movement said that it does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual within the party before exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with established processes.

The OK Movement National Secretary, Sani,rejected a statement credited to the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas, urging him to familiarise himself with NDC’s constitution before making assertion.

Sani, in her 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 further stated that the movement was not seeking political appointments or positions within the NDC as a condition for its support, saying its principles remained 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 tender an apology 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.

Coming on the heels of the court judgement that breathed fresh air into its campaign preparations, this development adds to existing tensions within the party caused by the allegation of substitution of candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.