The Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has rejected claims by the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) distancing the party from its recently unveiled 59-member presidential campaign council, insisting that it does not require the personal approval or validation of any individual before carrying out its organisational activities.
The movement also reaffirmed its commitment to campaigning for the NDC presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as other candidates of the party in areas where it has resolved to support them.
The National Secretary of the OK Movement, Saadatu Sani, stated this on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to comments attributed to the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas.
Sani urged Cleopas to familiarise himself with the constitution of the NDC before making assertions concerning the activities and status of the movement.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the OK Movement on Thursday unveiled a 59-member presidential campaign council, appointing John Ughulu as its National Director-General and Sani as National Secretary.
However, the NDC, in a statement issued on Saturday, distanced itself from the purported campaign council and urged members of the public to disregard the development.
Responding to the position of the party leadership, Sani said the movement recognised the supremacy of political parties within their constitutional and statutory spheres but maintained that the OK Movement remained an independent organisation with its own leadership and internal processes.
“The OK Movement does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with established processes,” she said.
Sani said the movement was established from the grassroots and did not depend on the sponsorship of any individual or political office holder to operate.
She added that the movement was not seeking political appointments or positions within the NDC as a condition for supporting the party’s candidates, stressing that its principles remained the basis for its political activities.
According to her, the OK Movement has developed a nationwide grassroots structure, with its internal membership records indicating approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators supported by relevant data.
She described the organisation as more than a temporary support group established for an election cycle, saying it had a philosophy, structure and long-term political vision.
“We speak for Nigerians who are demanding a better political system, economic opportunity, accountability and a government that places citizens at the centre,” Sani said.
The OK Movement secretary also addressed allegations concerning Ughulu and his alleged involvement in the Lagos State primaries, saying the issue required clarification rather than public condemnation.
She said the movement would continue to defend its members whenever their integrity was questioned but would not engage in personal insults or defamatory exchanges.
Sani consequently called on the NDC national chairman to withdraw statements she considered defamatory and apologise to the OK Movement and Ughulu.
The movement also insisted that its independence would not be compromised by disagreements with the NDC leadership.
“The OK Movement will not compromise its standards. The OK Movement will not surrender its independence. The OK Movement will not be intimidated,” she added.
Sani said the movement’s principles remained non-negotiable, stressing that its focus was on organisational independence, accountability and its long-term objectives for Nigeria.
The development adds to the emerging disagreements surrounding the structure and political role of support groups campaigning for the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
