The Obi-Kwankwaso movement has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over its newly announced presidential campaign council, questioning the party’s preparedness for the 2027 general election.
The movement said many of the prominent politicians named in the council might not have the grassroots support and political structures required to secure victory in a nationwide election.
In a statement on Monday, the Director-General of the OK movement, John Ughulu, expressed concern over the timing of the announcement, noting that the election was less than three months away.
Ughulu questioned what the party had been doing before unveiling its campaign council and raised concerns about its organisational capacity and plans for the election.
The NDC had announced a 155-member presidential campaign council on Sunday, with the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson, appointed as chairman and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, named as co-chairman.
The party also appointed its National Chairman, Cleopas Zuwoghe, as vice-chairman, while Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate, was named co-vice-chairman.
Ikenna Enekweizu, the party’s National Secretary, was appointed secretary of the council, while Ibrahim Abdulkarim, an information and communications technology strategist, was named its Director-General.
Reacting to the development, Ughulu questioned the party’s readiness to organise an effective campaign, arguing that announcing a campaign council shortly before the election raised concerns about its preparations.
He maintained that the presence of well-known political figures on a campaign list was not enough to guarantee electoral success, adding that parties needed strong grassroots networks, proper coordination and effective planning to compete nationally.
According to him, successful election campaigns depend on the ability to mobilise voters at the community level, coordinate supporters and establish structures that reach polling units across the country.
The OK movement director-general also suggested that some members of the NDC campaign council might eventually turn to his organisation for support and access to its existing network.
He claimed that the movement had focused on building its grassroots presence ahead of the election, arguing that political ambitions could not be achieved without the organisational capacity to turn them into votes.
Ughulu further described the OK movement as an organisation driven by clear principles and objectives rather than a temporary group established to support political leaders.
He said the movement was committed to demonstrating the importance of proper political organisation and questioned whether other groups preparing for the election had developed the structures needed to achieve their goals.
The movement maintained that having prominent politicians and announcing campaign plans were not substitutes for sustained preparation and grassroots mobilisation.
Ughulu concluded that the difference between political ambition and the ability to win an election depended on the strength of an organisation’s structures, planning and mobilisation efforts.