The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has distanced himself from the OK Movement Presidential Campaign Council formed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi said he was not involved in the creation of the campaign council and insisted that the OK Movement should operate as a support group rather than take on the responsibilities of the political party.
He made the clarification during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Thursday.
The development followed the decision by the OK Movement, led by John Ughulu, to establish a presidential campaign council in preparation for the 2027 elections.
Obi Rejects Campaign Council
Speaking about the development, Obi said he had no involvement in the formation of the council.
“I’m not involved,” Obi said, while explaining that the NDC remained the political platform to which he and other members belonged.
He also expressed agreement with the position previously taken by Seriake Dickson, the NDC National Leader, who had criticised the decision by the OK Movement.
According to Obi, groups supporting the NDC should concentrate on supporting the party rather than assuming responsibilities that belong to the party itself.
“The NDC is the political party we all belong to, and I agree entirely with the position of the leader,” he said.
OK Movement Described as Support Group
Obi said the OK Movement, along with other groups associated with his political support base, should function within their established roles.
He specifically mentioned the Obidient movement and Kwankwasiyya among groups that support political activities but are not political parties.
“OK Movement, Obidient, Kwankwasiyya and other groups are supporting groups,” Obi said.
He argued that such groups could contribute to the political process by supporting the party but should not assume the role of the party.
“They must play their role as supporting groups supporting the party. They should not play the role of the party,” he added.
Seriake Dickson Criticises Development
The controversy had earlier drawn a strong reaction from Dickson, who opposed the formation of the presidential campaign council by the OK Movement.
Dickson described the development as “nonsensical” and called for the movement to be brought under control.
His position reflected concerns over the relationship between support organisations and the NDC as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest clarification from Obi indicates that the presidential candidate does not recognise the campaign council as an official structure created by him or on behalf of the NDC.
NDC Distances Party From Council
Obi’s comments also draw a distinction between the NDC as a political party and organisations that support its candidates or political activities.
While support groups can mobilise people and contribute to campaigns, Obi maintained that they should not create structures that appear to exercise the authority of the political party.
He said the situation involving the OK Movement crossed that line because the group used its platform to establish a presidential campaign council.
“We found a situation where one of the supporting groups is using the nomenclature and forming a presidential campaign council. It shouldn’t be. No,” Obi said.
The dispute comes as political parties and various support groups begin preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The clarification is also significant because several political movements and support organisations have become closely associated with individual candidates in recent election cycles.
For Obi, however, the latest development appears to reinforce the distinction between his political party and the groups supporting his political ambition.
The NDC remains the political platform under which Obi is seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election, while the OK Movement and other support groups are expected to operate separately from the formal structures of the party.
Obi’s statement therefore makes clear that the presidential campaign council announced by the OK Movement was not formed with his involvement or approval.
