Support groups backing presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso has demanded an immediate apology from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after the party distanced itself from a campaign council set up by the group.
The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, known as the OK Movement, said it would not be intimidated and rejected any suggestion that it was a subordinate structure of the party. National Secretary Saadatu Sani issued the statement in Abuja on Sunday.
The dispute arose after the NDC, through its National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas, dissociated itself from a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council unveiled by the movement on Thursday. Cleopas said the council “did not emanate from the party” and should be disregarded, warning that no individual or support group could form a campaign structure in the party’s name without approval from its National Working Committee.
Sani described the chairman’s comments as unfortunate and reflective of a misunderstanding of the movement’s independent character. She called on Cleopas to withdraw statements she considered defamatory and to apologise to the OK Movement and its Director General, Hon. John Ughulu.
“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,” Sani said.
She added: “The NDC national chairman is therefore called upon to withdraw the statements considered defamatory and to tender an immediate apology to the OK Movement and to our Director General, Hon. John Ughulu.”
The movement said it recognised the supremacy of political parties within their constitutional roles and would campaign for Obi, Kwankwaso and selected NDC candidates. However, it insisted this support did not place it under party control.
“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 organisational functions,” Sani stated.
According to the group, it has built a nationwide grassroots structure with an internal database of approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators. It described itself as a long-term political organisation rather than a temporary election support group.
