2027: Obi Disowns OK Movement's Presidential Campaign Council

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has rejected the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council recently established by the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, saying support groups should not assume the functions of the political party.

Obi made the position known during an appearance on Arise TV's Prime Time on Thursday, September 24, while responding to the disagreement between the NDC leadership and the OK Movement over the campaign structure.

The former Anambra State governor said the NDC remained the political platform for his 2027 presidential bid and that groups supporting his candidacy, including the OK Movement, Obidient groups and Kwankwasiyya, should operate as support organisations for the party.

“NDC is the political party we all belong to. And I agree entirely with the position of the leader,” Obi said, referring to NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson.

He added that support groups should complement the party rather than establish structures that perform the functions of the party's official campaign machinery.

“They should not play the role of the party. We've found a situation where one of the supporting groups is using the nomenclature, that is forming Presidential Campaign Council. It shouldn't be. No,” Obi said.

The dispute followed the September 17 unveiling of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council by the OK Movement. The structure included zonal and state coordinators and directors responsible for areas such as mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security and legal affairs.

The NDC subsequently dissociated itself from the council. National Chairman Cleopas Moses said the structure did not emanate from the party and urged the public and media to disregard it.

Asked whether the OK Movement's campaign council had been established with his knowledge or approval, Obi rejected the suggestion.

“Not at all. And I say it here, it is wrong,” he said.

Obi added that because the OK Movement was campaigning around the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, actions undertaken in the name of the two candidates should have their express approval.

“So whatever you do must have express approval of both of us,” he said.

The comments followed earlier criticism from Dickson, who argued that support groups should complement the political party rather than establish parallel structures that could compete with the party's official campaign machinery.

The OK Movement, however, has maintained a different position.

Following the NDC's rejection of its campaign council, the movement said it was independently organised and did not require approval from individual NDC officials to carry out its organisational activities.

The disagreement therefore centres on the status and authority of the OK Movement's campaign structure and whether a support organisation campaigning for the NDC's presidential ticket can establish a separate presidential campaign council.

Obi's latest comments make clear that he does not recognise the OK Movement's 59-member council as an authorised campaign structure for his presidential bid.

Meanwhile, the NDC has been working on its own official Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, following the party's decision to establish a formal campaign structure for Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.