OK Movement Rejects NDC Control, Insists on Retaining Its Independent Structure

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has insisted that it will retain its independent organisational structure despite an ongoing disagreement with the Nigeria Democratic Congress over the authority to establish and manage campaign structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The movement's position followed a dispute over a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council it recently unveiled to mobilise support for the NDC presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso. The NDC subsequently dissociated itself from the council, saying it was not authorised by the party and that only the party leadership, with the approval of its National Working Committee, could constitute and announce a presidential campaign council in the party's name.

Responding to the disagreement, the OK Movement said it remained an independent political organisation with its own leadership, organisational structure, ideology and internal processes. Its National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, said the movement would continue to support Obi and Kwankwaso while maintaining control over its own affairs.

The movement said cooperation with the NDC did not mean that it had become a subordinate structure of the party. It maintained that it recognised the constitutional and statutory role of political parties but argued that its organisational identity and internal administration remained separate.

The OK Movement also said it would continue campaigning for NDC candidates where it had resolved to support them. According to the group, its activities were based on political cooperation rather than organisational absorption into the party.

The disagreement began after the movement announced the 59-member campaign council, with John Ozyl Ughulu named as Director-General and Saadatu Sani as National Secretary. The council was presented as a structure for mobilising support for the NDC presidential ticket across the country. The NDC, however, said support groups could participate in political mobilisation but should not establish parallel structures in the name of the party without approval.

The OK Movement has rejected that interpretation of its role and maintained that it has developed its own grassroots organisation. Sani claimed that the movement has an internal database containing approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators. That figure is a claim by the movement and has not been independently verified.

The dispute has also produced changes within the movement. Francis Nnoli, its National Head of Operations, resigned amid disagreements concerning the relationship between the organisation and the NDC. Reports said his resignation added another dimension to the disagreement over the movement's direction and relationship with the political party.

Despite the dispute, the OK Movement has said it remains committed to supporting the NDC presidential candidates. Its position is that such political support can coexist with an independent organisational structure.

For the NDC, the issue centres on the authority of the formal party structure and the need to ensure that campaign organs operating in the party's name receive appropriate approval. For the OK Movement, the issue is about retaining its separate identity while cooperating with the party and its candidates.

The disagreement therefore remains focused primarily on organisational authority rather than whether the movement supports the NDC's presidential ticket. Both sides have indicated their respective positions, but the extent to which the dispute affects their working relationship as the 2027 election approaches will depend on how the issue is resolved.