Abuja: Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dissociated itself from the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) constituted on Thursday by Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement. The party, in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas, described the announcement as unauthorised and urged the public and media to disregard it.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, OK Movement had, on Thursday, unveiled a 59-member presidential campaign council ahead of the 2027 general elections. The council includes John Ughulu as Director-General of the campaign, while Saadatu Sani, the movement’s National Secretary, was also listed among the campaign leadership. It comprises zonal and state coordinators, along with directors for mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs, and other key areas.
Cleopas, in a statement made available to NAN on Sunday, however, said that the purported campaign council should be disregarded. He emphasized that all candidates are contesting elections on the platform of NDC and are therefore subject to its authority and discipline, rather than operating as independent candidates. The NDC chairman stated that only the party leadership had the authority to constitute and announce its presidential campaign council.
He added that no individual, candidate, or support group was authorised to create or publish campaign structures in the party’s name without approval from the National Working Committee (NWC). Cleopas acknowledged the contributions of support groups and encouraged their continued support for its political objectives. He stated that such groups could collaborate with the party but should not regard themselves as alternative structures or parallel organs of the NDC.
Cleopas also urged members and support groups with grievances to use the party’s internal channels for resolution rather than engaging in public attacks against the party. He mentioned that Ughulu had been referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party over what he described as his ‘excesses’ during the party’s primary election in Lagos and repeated disregard for party authority. The disciplinary process would be conducted in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
Cleopas concluded by stating that NDC remained focused on its issue-based campaign and its commitment to delivering what he described as a ‘New Nigeria that is possible’.