The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has disowned the 59-member presidential campaign council constituted by OK Movement, a support group for Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the party, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In a statement on Saturday, Cleopas Moses, NDC national chairman, said the list did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media.
The OK Movement had on Thursday unveiled the 59-member committee, comprising zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors overseeing mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas. The movement said John Ughulu, its director-general, and Saadatu Sani, the national secretary, would serve as the campaign council’s director-general and secretary, respectively.
In the statement titled “Re: Purported OK Movement PCC Announcement,” Moses said the party “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.”
The national chairman stressed that all candidates of the party must appreciate that they are not running as independent candidates, adding that they are products of the party and remain subject to its authority and discipline.
“Therefore, only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council,” he said.
Moses warned that 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 (NWC).
While acknowledging the contributions of support groups, he said such groups should not see themselves as alternative party structures or parallel organs of the party. He also urged members and support groups with grievances to channel them through the party’s internal mechanisms rather than resorting to public attacks.
The NDC national chairman further announced that Ughulu would be referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party over what he described as “his excesses during the primary election in Lagos state” and “repeated disregard for party authority.”
The party said it remained focused on its issue-based campaign and committed to delivering “a New Nigeria that is Possible.”
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