The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement has rejected claims that its operations are financed by the Nigeria Democratic Congress or its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that the group maintains an independent organisational structure.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, stated this on Friday in a statement issued in Abuja amid an ongoing disagreement between the group and the NDC over the structure of the 2027 presidential campaign.
Ughulu said the movement had established its own principles, leadership and organisational framework and did not depend on Obi or the NDC for funding.
“The mechanism through which the OK Movement operates is founded upon its established principles and values.
“Consequently, the movement does not and has not required any financial support from His Excellency, Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, or the NDC to establish or operate its own organisational structure,” he said.
The statement followed the NDC’s announcement of the commencement of registration for support groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the registration was free and would be conducted exclusively by its Directorate of Support Groups at the national headquarters in Abuja.
Director said the decision followed reports that some state chairmen were demanding payment from support groups seeking registration.
He warned that no state chapter, party officer or official was authorised to register support groups or collect fees for the exercise, adding that those found violating the directive would face disciplinary action.
However, Ughulu maintained that the OK Movement was a separate political organisation whose leadership and internal structure did not require the approval of the NDC.
He said the movement had deliberately structured its operations to ensure that its leadership was not financially dependent on Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, or the NDC.
Ughulu also defended the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council recently unveiled by the movement for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, despite the NDC’s rejection of the council.
The NDC had disowned the council, maintaining that only its National Working Committee had the authority to constitute a presidential campaign council.
But Ughulu argued that the movement had the right to establish and manage its own organisational structures.
He said the OK Movement had never claimed superiority over the NDC, stressing that both entities had distinct organisational structures and responsibilities.
“There is no provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, nor any provision of the NDC Party Constitution brought to our attention, that automatically vests exclusive authority in a political party or its candidate to determine the internal organisational structure of an independent political organisation,” he said.
He added, “The NDC Party is entitled to constitute its own campaign structures, just as the OK Movement is entitled to organise and manage its own affairs within the limits of applicable law.”
Ughulu said the movement’s position was not aimed at provoking a confrontation with the NDC but was intended to protect what he described as its institutional and organisational independence.
“Our position is not about confrontation. It is about clarity, institutional respect and the protection of organisational independence,” he said.
He, however, expressed the movement’s readiness to work with the NDC if the party respected its principles and organisational structure.
“If the party chooses to work with the principles, values and structures of the OK Movement, we remain prepared to engage constructively. However, the movement cannot be compelled to abandon its principles or organisational identity to satisfy the ambitions or preferences of any individual or group,” Ughulu stated.
He further explained that independence did not imply opposition to the NDC, arguing that both organisations could independently manage their respective structures while working towards the same political objective.
“The meaning of ‘independent’ is straightforward. The NDC has the right to constitute and manage its own campaign structures. Likewise, an independent political organisation has the right to constitute and manage its own organisational structures, subject always to the law,” he said.
