NDC Disowns OK Movement’s PCC, Warns Against Parallel Structures

The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dissociated itself from a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council unveiled by the OK Movement, a support group backing Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The party described the campaign council as unauthorised, saying the list did not emanate from the NDC and should therefore be disregarded by members of the public and the media.

The NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, made the position known in a statement on Saturday, following the unveiling of the Council by the support group on Thursday.

The 59-member committee comprises zonal and state coordinators as well as directors responsible for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.

The OK Movement had announced its Director-General, Mr John Ughulu, and National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, as the Director-General and Secretary of the campaign council, respectively.

But Senator Moses said the party leadership was not involved in the constitution of the council.

“The party hereby dissociates itself in totality from the said OK Movement PCC announcement. It did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media,” he said.

The NDC chairman stressed that all candidates of the party remained subject to the authority and discipline of the party and were not contesting as independent candidates.

“All candidates of the party must appreciate that they are not running as independent candidates. They are products of the party and remain subject to the authority and discipline of the party.

“Therefore, only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council”, Senator Moses said.

He warned members, candidates and support groups against announcing or operating campaign structures in the name of the party without approval from its National Working Committee (NWC).

“Henceforth, no individual or group is authorised to announce, constitute, or publish any campaign council, structure, or organ in the name of the party without prior approval from the National Working Committee (NWC),” he added.

Senator Moses acknowledged the contributions of support groups to the party’s activities but cautioned them against creating structures that could function as alternatives to the recognised party organs.

“While the party will continue to work collaboratively with all support groups, such groups should not see themselves as alternative party structures or parallel organs of the party,” he said.

He also urged members and support groups with grievances to use the party’s internal mechanisms rather than resorting to public criticism.

The NDC chairman further disclosed that Mr Ughulu would be referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party over what he described as “his excesses during the primary election in Lagos State” and “repeated disregard for party authority.”