The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday rejected a 59-member presidential campaign council announced by the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, insisting the structure was not authorised by the party.
National Chairman Senator Cleopas Moses said in a statement that the public and media should disregard the council, which the support group unveiled on Thursday to mobilise for NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 election.
“The party 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,” Moses said.
The announced structure named John Ughulu, the movement’s director-general, as head of the campaign council and Saadatu Sani as secretary, alongside zonal and state coordinators as well as directors for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other roles.
Moses stressed that candidates contesting on the NDC platform remain subject to the party’s authority and discipline.
“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,” he said.
He warned that no individual or group was authorised to announce or publish any campaign council or structure in the party’s name without prior approval from the National Working Committee.
While acknowledging the role of support groups, Moses cautioned them against presenting themselves as alternative or parallel party organs and urged those with grievances to use internal mechanisms.
The chairman also said Ughulu would be referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ over what he described as excesses during the primary election in Lagos State and repeated disregard for party authority.
