OK movement not funded by Obi, NDC – DG

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The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement on Friday affirmed the independence of its political structure, stressing that it does not receive financial support from the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, or the party to run its affairs.

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The Director General of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, John Ughulu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

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He said, “The mechanism through which the OK Movement operates is founded upon its established principles and values.

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“Consequently, the movement does not and has not required any financial support from His Excellency, Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, or the NDC to establish or operate its own organisational structure.”

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Ughulu also insisted that the contentious Presidential Campaign Council, which the movement recently launched, remained valid and operational despite opposition from some NDC leaders.

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The development came hours after the NDC announced the commencement of registration of support groups ahead of the 2027 elections, a move that has triggered disagreement with some groups supporting its presidential ticket.

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The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the registration was free and exclusively handled by its Directorate of Support Groups at the national headquarters in Abuja.

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Director noted that the decision followed reports that some state chairmen were demanding registration fees from support groups.

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He warned that no state chapter, officer or official of the party was authorised to register support groups or collect money for the exercise, adding that violators would face disciplinary action.

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However, Ughulu said the OK Movement remained an independent political organisation whose structure and leadership did not require the approval of the NDC leadership.

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He argued that their political structure was modelled in such a way that its leadership does not become dependent on Obi, his running mate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso and the party for funding.

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According to him, the group had never claimed superiority over the NDC, noting that the party was a political organisation with its own constitutional structures while the movement had its own principles, leadership and organisational framework.

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Ughulu further argued that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the NDC constitution, as presented to the movement, automatically vested the party or its candidate with authority over the internal structure of an independent political organisation.

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“There is no provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, nor any provision of the NDC Party Constitution brought to our attention, that automatically vests exclusive authority in a political party or its candidate to determine the internal organisational structure of an independent political organisation.

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“The NDC Party is entitled to constitute its own campaign structures, just as the OK Movement is entitled to organise and manage its own affairs within the limits of applicable law,” he said.

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His protest followed a recent disagreement between the NDC and the OK Movement over the latter’s announcement of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

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While the NDC disowned the council and said only its National Working Committee could constitute a presidential campaign council, Ughulu maintained that it was an independent organisation and therefore entitled to manage its own structures.

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He also vowed the movement would not allow its structure to be undermined or dissolved, stressing that its position was not intended to create a confrontation with the party.

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“Our position is not about confrontation. It is about clarity, institutional respect and the protection of organisational independence. If the party chooses to work with the principles, values and structures of the OK Movement, we remain prepared to engage constructively.

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“However, the movement cannot be compelled to abandon its principles or organisational identity to satisfy the ambitions or preferences of any individual or group,” he stated.

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“The meaning of ‘independent’ is straightforward. The NDC has the right to constitute and manage its own campaign structures. Likewise, an independent political organisation has the right to constitute and manage its own organisational structures, subject always to the law,” he noted.

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