The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has dissociated itself from the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, unveiled by the Obi-Kwankwaso, OK, Movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, the party described the campaign council as unauthorized and urged the public and the media to disregard the announcement.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the OK Movement unveiled the campaign council on Thursday, with its Director-General, John Ughulu, listed as Director-General of the campaign. The movement’s National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, was also named among the campaign leadership.
The council also includes zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors overseeing mobilization, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.
However, Cleopas, in a statement made available to NAN on Sunday, said the purported campaign council had no authorization from the NDC leadership.
He said all candidates contesting elections on the NDC platform were subject to the authority and discipline of the party and could not operate as independent candidates.
According to him, only the party leadership had the authority to constitute and announce its presidential campaign council.
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Cleopas added that no individual, candidate or support group was authorized to create or publish campaign structures in the name of the party without the approval of the National Working Committee.
The NDC chairman, however, acknowledged the contributions of support groups and encouraged them to continue supporting the party’s political objectives.
He said such groups could collaborate with the party but should not present themselves as alternative structures or parallel organs of the NDC.
Cleopas also urged party members and support groups with grievances to use the party’s internal mechanisms for resolving disputes rather than engaging in public attacks against the party.
He further disclosed that Ughulu had been referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party over what he described as his “excesses” during the party’s primary election in Lagos and his repeated disregard for the party’s authority.
According to Cleopas, the disciplinary process would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
He said the NDC remained focused on its issue-based campaign and its commitment to delivering what he described as a “New Nigeria that is possible.”
NAN
