The Nigeria Democratic Congress has dissociated itself from the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council recently announced by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party also warned that no individual, candidate or support group was authorised to constitute or announce any campaign council or structure in its name without the approval of its National Working Committee.
NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday night, three days after the movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, unveiled the campaign council.
Cleopas said the party had taken note of the announcement and rejected any link between the council and the NDC.
“The leadership of our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has noted with concern a publication credited to John Ughulu announcing a Presidential Campaign Council under the guise of ‘OK Movement.’
“For the avoidance of doubt, the party wishes to state categorically that it hereby dissociates itself in totality from the said OK Movement PCC announcement. It did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media,” he said.
The NDC chairman said the party’s candidates were subject to its leadership and could not operate as independent candidates.
“All candidates of the party must appreciate that they are not running as independent candidates. They are products of the party and remain subject to the authority and discipline of the party.
“Therefore, only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council,” Cleopas added.
He also warned members and support groups against creating structures that could undermine the authority of the party.
“No member, candidate, or support group should, under any guise, undermine the party or demarket the party.
“Henceforth, no individual or group is 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,” he said.
The development followed the announcement of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement three days earlier.
The council comprises zonal and state coordinators as well as directors overseeing mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.
Ughulu was named Director-General, while the movement’s National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, was also listed among the campaign leadership.
The structure covers the six geopolitical zones, the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states.
Other positions include directors for grassroots mobilisation, women affairs, contact and engagement, special duties, procurement, information technology, legal affairs, strategy and planning, security and intelligence, and administration.
