Cracks In NDC: Obi-Kwankwaso Movement Rejects Dickson-led Campaign Council, Says Not Included

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, OK Movement, has faulted the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, over the unveiling of its National Campaign Council, questioning the party’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, said the NDC had waited too long to organise its campaign machinery, boasting that his movement has a stronger grassroots structure.

He stated this on Monday in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, a day after the NDC announced its campaign council.

Ughulu said:

“The funny part of this list is that 90 per cent of the people on it will still come knocking on the doors of the OK Movement to beg for the very structure they have failed to build themselves!”

“With less than three months to the general elections, they are only just announcing their Presidential Campaign Council. What exactly have they been doing all this time? Where is the structure? Where is the strategy? Where is the machinery required to prosecute a serious national election?”

The criticism comes amid escalating disagreement between the NDC and the OK Movement over the latter’s independence and its place in the campaign for presidential candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The NDC on Sunday named its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, as Chairman of its National Campaign Council, with Obi as Co-chairman, National Chairman Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe as Vice Chairman, and Kwankwaso as Co-vice Chairman.

Other appointees include former SGF Babachir Lawal as Chairman of National Advisory Council, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Pat Utomi, Buba Galadima, National Secretary Ikenna Enekweizu as Council Secretary, and Ibrahim Abdulkarim as Director-General.

However, Ughulu and the OK Movement’s state, local government and ward coordinators were not included.

The omission comes against the backdrop of a dispute over the movement’s decision to establish its own presidential campaign council, which Dickson described as “unheard of” and “nonsensical”.

Dickson had argued that support groups should complement political parties rather than compete with them.

But Ughulu insisted that the OK Movement is an independent political organisation, not merely a conventional support group, and would not surrender its structures to the NDC.

“Elections are not won by titles, press releases, political noise, or the number of big names on a campaign council. Elections are won through grassroots mobilisation, effective coordination, strategic planning, committed people, and a well-established structure that reaches every polling unit,” he said.

“We did not wait for the election to approach before recognising the importance of grassroots organisation. We understood from the beginning that a presidential ambition without a functional grassroots structure is nothing more than a political wish!”

“Leadership is not about who makes the loudest noise. Leadership is about who prepares, organises, builds, and delivers when it matters most. The OK Movement is ready. The question is: are they? Nigeria will be OK,” Ughulu added.

The NDC is scheduled to inaugurate its National Campaign Council and commission its national secretariat in Abuja on Monday.