One of Nigeria’s main opposition parties has distanced itself from a support group of its presidential candidate that set up a presidential campaign council (PCC).
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) said the PCC set up by the OK Movement should be disregarded by the public.
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“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,” the NDC National Chairman, Cleopas Moses, said in a statement on Saturday.
Setting up OK Movement’s PCC
The OK (short for Obi-Kwankwaso) Movement is one of the independent groups mobilising support for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the NDC.
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Last Thursday, the OK Movement, constituted a 59-member PCC to mobilise support for Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 election.
The Movement announced the constitution of the PCC in a statement issued by Saadatu Sani.
The statement identified John Ughulu as the director-general of the PCC while Mr Sani would serve as its national secretary
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According to the statement, the campaign council would operate independently of the campaign council to be constituted by the NDC leadership.
However, in the Saturday’s statement by Mr Moses, the NDC said it is uncomfortable with the actions of the OK Movement, pointing out that the group’s actions could “undermine the party.”
In his statement, the party chairman warned candidates and their supporters to respect the party hierarchy.
“All candidates of the party must appreciate that they are not running as independent candidates,” he wrote.
‘They’re members, but only NDC leadership can constitute PCC’
Mr Moses stressed that although the OK Movement is a product of the NDC, only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce the PCC.
“No member, candidate, or support group should, under any guise, undermine the party or de-market the party,” he said.
The national chairman then announced a ban on the constitution of any campaign council without authorisation.
“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 stated.
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‘Support groups not alternative party’
Mr Moses reiterated that the NDC recognises and deeply appreciates contributions from all support groups, but warned against such groups operating as alternative political parties.
“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.
“We expect a stop to unnecessary attacks against the party on whose platform our candidates are running,” he said.
The NDC leader advised support groups or members who have any grievances to refer such matters to the party through appropriate internal channels for resolution rather than resorting to what he termed “public attacks.”
He stressed that the NDC was now constrained to “enforce disciplinary measures” against Mr Ughulu for his “repeated disregard” to the party’s authority.
“He is hereby referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party for necessary action in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution,” he said.
Not the first time
PREMIUM TIMES reports that this is not the first time the NDC has raised concerns about groups supporting its presidential candidate.
In June this year, for instance, the NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, expressed concern over criticisms of some NDC leaders reportedly made by some members of Obidient Movement, supporters of the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Obi.
At the time, some members of the Movement had accused NDC leaders of being hostile to Mr Obi’s camp.
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