Obi-Kwankwaso Movement demands apology from NDC over campaign council dispute

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, known as the OK Movement, has asked the Nigeria Democratic Congress to apologise over comments made by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, regarding the movement’s 59-member Presidential Campaign Council.

The group also rejected what it described as attempts to intimidate or undermine its activities, maintaining that it operates independently with its own leadership, organisational structure and decision-making processes.

The National Secretary of the movement, Saadatu Sani, made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

The dispute followed the NDC’s rejection of a campaign council announced by the OK Movement on Thursday as part of efforts to mobilise support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, Cleopas said the campaign council was not authorised by the party and urged members of the public to disregard it.

He further stated that individuals, candidates and support organisations could not establish or announce structures in the name of the NDC without the approval of the party’s National Working Committee.

Sani, however, described the NDC chairman’s position as unfortunate, arguing that it was based on a misunderstanding of the movement’s identity and independence.

She advised Cleopas to consult the provisions of the NDC constitution before making claims concerning the movement’s rights and responsibilities.

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.

“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 group said it acknowledged the constitutional and statutory authority of political parties within their respective spheres, adding that it would support Obi and Kwankwaso as well as selected NDC candidates across the country where its leadership had resolved to do so.

It nevertheless maintained that its decision to support the party and its candidates did not place the movement under the control of the NDC.

“We will campaign for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party. We will campaign for candidates of the NDC Party 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 the movement, it has established a grassroots network across the country, supported by an internal database containing about 2.5 million registered members and coordinators.

Sani said the organisation should not be regarded as a temporary political support platform created solely for the 2027 elections, stressing that it had a broader and long-term political objective.

She also dismissed allegations relating to Ughulu’s role in the Lagos State primary, saying the movement was prepared to state its position on the matter.

The OK Movement secretary reiterated that the organisation would avoid personal attacks and defamatory exchanges but would respond whenever the integrity of its members was called into question.