NDC Presidential Campaign Council Rift Deepens

The friction within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the establishment of a Presidential Campaign Council by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement escalated yesterday as it fired back at the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting that it cannot be intimidated.

The NDC had on Saturday dissociated itself from the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) unveiled last Thursday.

The National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Cleopas Moses, in a statement he personally signed, said only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council.

However, the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement said the party whose presidential as well as vice-presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, it is working for, seriously misunderstood the character, structure, independence and constitutional foundation of the movement.

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, yesterday, asked the NDC national chairman to carefully revisit and familiarise himself with the constitution of his own party before making sweeping assertions about the rights, responsibilities and independence of a movement such as OK.

It also called on the national chairman to withdraw the statements considered defamatory and tender an immediate apology to the OK Movement and to its National Director-General, John Ughulu.

“The attention of the leadership of the OK Movement has been drawn to a recent publication attributed to the National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Cleopas Moses.

“We consider the tone and substance of the publication unfortunate and reflective of a serious misunderstanding of the character, structure, independence and constitutional foundation of the OK Movement.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we advise the National Chairman to carefully revisit and familiarise himself with the constitution of his own party before making sweeping assertions about the rights, responsibilities and independence of a movement such as ours,” the statement read in part.

The OK Movement said it is bigger than any individual, office holder or group of individuals, as the ideology upon which the movement was established will outlive its founding members and every individual currently occupying a leadership position.

“Our principles cannot be compromised for political convenience. Our words are clear, and our moral values remain our guiding principles.

“The OK Movement recognises the supremacy of political parties within their constitutional and statutory sphere. We also recognise the importance of working with the NDC and supporting its candidates.

“However, the OK Movement is an independent political movement with its own leadership, organisational structure, ideology and internal processes.

“We will campaign for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party. We will campaign for candidates of the NDC 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 organisational functions.

“Our movement is organic. It was built from the grassroots and does not depend upon the sponsorship of any individual or political office holder. Neither are we seeking political appointments or positions within the party as a condition for our support.

“The OK Movement has developed a nationwide grassroots structure and, according to our internal membership records, has established a database representing approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators with supporting data. Our movement is therefore not a temporary support group created for an election cycle,” the statement added.

The OK Movement further said it will not be dragged into politics of personal insults, intimidation or defamatory exchanges but will continue to educate rather than abuse and present facts rather than manufacture narratives.

“The National Chairman is therefore called upon to withdraw the statements considered defamatory and to tender an immediate apology to the OK Movement and to the National Director-General, Hon. John Ughulu.

“Let it be clearly understood: the OK Movement will not compromise its standards. The OK Movement will not surrender its independence. The OK Movement will not be intimidated. Our principles are not negotiable. Our movement is bigger than any individual,” it stated.

The rift has since sparked more reactions online, especially on X, where Obi and Kwankwaso supporters have been attacking the NDC leadership for disowning them.