The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has demanded an immediate apology from the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, over comments by the party’s National Chairman.
The movement also rejected the NDC’s attempt to distance itself from the council, insisting that it is an independent political organization with its own leadership, structure and internal processes and cannot be subjected to intimidation or personal approval.
The National Secretary of the OK Movement, Saadatu Sani, made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, following the unveiling of the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council to mobilize support for the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the NDC, in a statement issued by National Chairman Moses Cleopas, dissociated itself from the council, saying it did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded.
Cleopas also said that no individual, candidate or support group was authorized to constitute or announce a campaign structure in the party’s name without prior approval from the National Working Committee.
Reacting, Sani described the NDC chairman’s position as unfortunate and said it reflected a misunderstanding of the OK Movement’s character and independence.
She urged Cleopas to familiarize himself with the NDC constitution before making assertions about the rights and responsibilities of the movement.
Also Read: NDC disowns 59-member Obi-Kwankwaso campaign council
“The OK Movement does not engage in such politics. We will not be dragged into a politics of personal insults, intimidation or defamatory exchanges.
“We will continue to educate rather than abuse. We will continue to defend the principles upon which this movement was established,” she said.
Sani called on the NDC national chairman to withdraw what the movement considered defamatory statements and apologize to the organization and its Director-General, John Ughulu.
The movement said it recognized the supremacy of political parties within their constitutional and statutory spheres, adding that it would campaign for Obi and Kwankwaso as well as NDC candidates across the country in areas where it had resolved to support them. However, it maintained that such support did not make the movement a subordinate structure of the NDC.
“We will campaign for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party. We will campaign for candidates of the NDC Party across the country where the movement has resolved to support them.
“But we do not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising our legitimate organizational functions,” Sani said.
According to her, the movement has developed a nationwide grassroots structure with an internal database representing approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators.
She also said the OK Movement was not a temporary support group established solely for the 2027 elections but an organization with a long-term political vision.
Sani further rejected allegations concerning Ughulu’s involvement in the Lagos State primary, saying the movement welcomed the opportunity to put its position on record.
She reiterated that the movement would not engage in personal attacks or defamatory exchanges but would defend its members whenever their integrity was questioned.
PUNCH
