2027: OK Movement unveils council, demands NDC apology
The Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has unveiled a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council and demanded an apology from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over its rejection of the body.
The movement also reaffirmed its independence, insisting that backing the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso does not make it a subordinate arm of the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
*Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso
Abimbola Joseph
The Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has unveiled a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council and demanded an apology from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over its rejection of the body.
The movement also reaffirmed its independence, insisting that backing the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso does not make it a subordinate arm of the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Unveiled on Thursday, the council comprises zonal and state coordinators, alongside directors overseeing key portfolios including grassroots mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy and planning, legal affairs, security, administration and engagement.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, was named campaign DG, while National Secretary Saadatu Sani joined the campaign leadership. The structure includes representatives from all six geopolitical zones, the Federal Capital Territory and coordinators across the 36 states.
Key appointments include Suleiman Abubakar (North-Central), Hashimu Dungurawa (North-West), Amadu Gwambe (North-East), Dr Adebayo Adefolaseye (South-West), Christopher Ighodaro (South-South) and El-Shaddai Ikeh (South-East).
Other officials include Rev Mike Agbon (Inter-Ethnic Group in Northern Nigeria), Sabo Gashua (Grassroots Mobilisation), Glory Adayi (Women’s Affairs), Kabir Yahaya (Contact and Engagement), Abdumumini Tijjani (Mobilisation), Yusuf Mani (Special Duties), Peace Daful (Procurement), Prof Charles Nwekeaku (South-East Town Hall) and Sunmisola Adebayo (Information Technology).
Kingdom Okere was appointed Director of Legal Affairs, Abiodun Dabiri heads Strategy and Planning, retired CSP Richard Enemona oversees Security and Intelligence, while Aisha Abdulrahaman was named Director of Administration.
Addressing the new council, Sani described their appointment as a call to national service. She urged members to spread the movement’s message nationwide and mobilise support around its vision of a more prosperous, united and functional Nigeria.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that the message of our principals reaches every Nigerian and that the voice of the people is heard across the length and breadth of our nation,” she said.
The council’s unveiling, however, sparked a clash with the NDC.
In a statement on Saturday, NDC National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas distanced the party from the campaign council, insisting it was not authorised by the party. He said no individual, candidate or support group could establish a campaign structure in the party’s name without approval from its National Working Committee.
The OK Movement fired back on Sunday, demanding that Cleopas withdraw what it called defamatory remarks and apologise to both the organisation and Ughulu.
Sani argued that the NDC chairman misunderstood the movement’s status and independence, urging him to familiarise himself with the party’s constitution before making claims about the group’s rights and responsibilities.
While affirming respect for political parties and their constitutional roles, the movement said it would campaign for Obi, Kwankwaso and NDC candidates it chooses to support nationwide. It stressed, however, that such support does not place it under the party’s control.
“We do not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising our legitimate organisational functions,” Sani said.
The movement said its nationwide structure includes an internal database of about 2.5 million registered members and coordinators. It also described itself as a long-term political organisation, not a temporary election support group, and reiterated its commitment to maintaining an independent structure ahead of the 2027 polls.
