OK MOVEMENT REJECTS NDC CONTROL OVER ITS POLITICAL STRUCTURES

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has rejected any suggestion that it should collapse or hand over its organisational structures to the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections. The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, said its national, state, local government and ward structures would remain under its own administration despite its political cooperation with the NDC.

Ughulu was responding to comments by the NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, who said support groups should complement political parties rather than operate as parallel structures. Dickson had also criticised the OK Movement’s decision to establish a presidential campaign council, describing the move as inappropriate and maintaining that political support organisations should work within their expected role during campaigns.

The OK Movement DG argued that his organisation was different from a conventional support group because it was independently organised and had its own leadership, internal administration and structures. He said the movement included members of different political parties who shared support for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso and were working towards their political aspirations. He maintained that the movement’s decision to mobilise for the NDC presidential candidates did not make it an appendage of the party.

Ughulu also rejected Dickson’s description of the movement’s campaign council as “nonsensical”, saying the political landscape had evolved beyond traditional party structures. He said the OK Movement recognised the constitutional authority of the NDC over its internal affairs but equally expected the party to respect the movement’s independent identity. He warned that any attempt to appropriate, dissolve, merge or transfer the movement’s structures would be resisted through lawful and democratic means.

The disagreement follows the NDC’s earlier rejection of a 59-member presidential campaign council announced by the OK Movement to mobilise support for Obi and Kwankwaso. NDC National Chairman Moses Cleopas had said the party did not authorise the council and that no support group could establish a campaign structure in the party’s name without approval from its National Working Committee. The latest position from the OK Movement indicates that while it intends to continue cooperating with the NDC and supporting its candidates, it plans to retain control of its own organisational network ahead of the 2027 elections.