2027: Dickson Calls on Obi, Kwankwaso Over OK Movement’s Campaign Council

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, has urged the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to call the Obi/Kwankwaso Movement, known as the OK Movement, to order over its decision to form a presidential campaign council.

Dickson made the call on Wednesday while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the NDC. His reaction followed the announcement by the OK Movement that it had constituted a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council for the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The NDC leader said a support group does not have the authority to establish a presidential campaign council for a political party or take over responsibilities belonging to the party.

He maintained that support groups are expected to assist political parties and their candidates through grassroots mobilisation rather than create structures that could compete with the party.

Dickson said the NDC has several support groups working for its candidates and that the party welcomes more groups willing to contribute to its campaign activities. However, he said such groups must operate within their proper roles and should not attempt to assume the functions of the party.

He also warned against any situation in which a support group would challenge the authority of the political party sponsoring the candidates it claims to support.

According to him, support groups do not sponsor candidates or determine the structure of a political party’s presidential campaign. Their main responsibility is to mobilise voters and provide support for candidates during elections.

Dickson therefore called on Obi and Kwankwaso, as the party’s presidential candidates, to address the situation and ensure that the OK Movement does not act beyond its role as a support group.

The development comes amid disagreements between the NDC and the OK Movement over the 59-member campaign council announced by the group.

The NDC had earlier rejected the council, saying the movement did not have the authority to create or announce a campaign structure in the party’s name without approval from the appropriate party organs.

The dispute has continued to draw attention within the opposition party as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.