NDC Rejects OK Movement's Unauthorized Presidential Campaign Council

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has formally dissociated itself from a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) established by the Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement. National Chairman Moses Cleopas declared the council unauthorized, stating it did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and media. Cleopas asserted that only the party leadership and the National Working Committee possess the authority to constitute campaign structures, warning that candidates and support groups are not running as independent entities.

The OK Movement, which appointed John Ozyl Ughulu as Director-General and Saadatu Sani as National Secretary, rejected the NDC's position. Sani asserted that the movement is an independent grassroots organization with 2.5 million members that does not require party validation to exercise its organizational functions. While the movement intends to campaign for the NDC's presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, it maintains it is not a subordinate organ of the party.

Tensions escalated after the NDC referred John Ozyl Ughulu to a disciplinary organ for alleged excesses during primary elections in Lagos and a repeated disregard for party authority. In response, the OK Movement demanded an immediate apology from Cleopas for statements it deemed defamatory and insisted that its independence is non-negotiable.