State chairmen of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, have reaffirmed the authority of the party’s structures amid an ongoing disagreement with the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement over campaign organisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The dispute centers on whether the movement, which supports the NDC presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, can establish campaign structures independently of the party.
Several NDC state chairmen who spoke across 10 states maintained that support groups, including the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements, should complement the party rather than establish structures that perform the functions of official party organs.
However, some of the chairmen said there was no serious disagreement in their states, adding that discussions were ongoing to accommodate different support groups within the wider campaign effort.
NDC rejects 59-member campaign council
The disagreement intensified after the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement unveiled a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council on September 17.
The council included zonal and state coordinators as well as directors responsible for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.
The NDC subsequently disowned the council, saying it did not originate from the party and that only the party leadership could constitute and announce its official Presidential Campaign Council.
NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson also said support groups should not compete with the party or establish structures that perform the functions of its official campaign machinery.
Obi backs party position
Peter Obi has also rejected the creation of a separate Presidential Campaign Council by the OK Movement.
Speaking on Arise TV, Obi said the NDC was the political party to which supporters of his 2027 presidential bid belonged, while the OK Movement, Obidient groups and Kwankwasiyya should operate as support groups.
Obi said the movement’s campaign council was not created with his approval and argued that support organisations should not perform the role of the political party.
OK Movement insists on independence
The OK Movement, however, has maintained that it is an independent political organisation with its own leadership and structures.
Its National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, said the movement would campaign for Obi, Kwankwaso and NDC candidates it chooses to support, but insisted that its activities did not require personal approval from individual party officials.
The movement has also maintained that it would not surrender its organisational structures to the NDC.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, further said the organisation does not receive financial support from Obi or the NDC to operate its structure. He maintained that the disputed campaign council remained operational.
NDC prepares official campaign council
Amid the dispute, the NDC has given Obi and Kwankwaso authority to nominate key officials of the party’s official Presidential Campaign Council in consultation with the party leadership.
The positions include the Director-General, Deputy Director-General for the North, campaign spokesman, deputy spokesman, Head of New Media and finance officials.
The disagreement therefore remains focused on the relationship between the NDC’s formal party structures and the independent organisations supporting its 2027 presidential ticket.
