NDC Row: OK Movement Says Obi, NDC Isn’t Funding Its Operations

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, said on Friday that it operates independently and does not receive financial support from Peter Obi or the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, to run its activities.

The movement’s Director General, John Ughulu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, amid an ongoing disagreement between the group and the NDC over the structure of the campaign for the 2027 general elections.

Ughulu said the movement was established around its own principles, values and organisational system, which it maintains without financial backing from Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, or the party.

He also maintained that the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council recently announced by the movement remains valid and operational, despite objections from some NDC leaders.

The disagreement came shortly after the NDC announced the opening of registration for support groups ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party said the registration process was free and would be handled only by its Directorate of Support Groups at the national headquarters in Abuja. It also warned against the collection of money by state party officials, following reports that some state chairmen were demanding fees from support groups.

Ughulu, however, said the OK Movement was a separate political organisation with its own leadership and internal structure, which does not depend on the approval of the NDC.

He explained that the movement was designed to operate without relying on Obi, his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso, or the NDC for its organisational funding.

According to him, the movement had never claimed to be superior to the NDC, noting that both organisations have different structures and responsibilities. He said while the NDC operates as a political party under its constitution, the OK Movement has its own principles and framework.

Ughulu further argued that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the NDC constitution, as made available to the movement, gives a political party or its candidate automatic control over the internal affairs of an independent political organisation.

The dispute followed the movement’s announcement of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket. The NDC rejected the council and maintained that only its National Working Committee has the authority to establish a presidential campaign structure.

The OK Movement has rejected that position, insisting that its independent status gives it the right to establish and manage its own organisational arrangements within the law.

Ughulu said the movement would resist any attempt to weaken or dissolve its structure, while stressing that its position was not intended to create a conflict with the NDC.

He said the group remained open to working with the party where their principles and structures were compatible but would not abandon its identity or internal arrangements to meet the demands of individuals or groups.

The dispute has added another layer to the political preparations surrounding the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, as the NDC and affiliated support groups continue to define their respective roles and campaign structures.