Another serious hurdle is threatening to scatter the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as fresh crisis breaks in the opposition family. The national leadership of the party has distanced itself from the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council unveiled by OK Movement.
The OK Movement is political platform that’s mobilising for NDC presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso.
In a statement made available to pressmen yesterday the National Chairman of NDC, Senator Cleopas Moses, said the party wasn’t consulted when OK Movement released the PCC list, calling for the public to disregard it.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the party wishes to state categorically as follows:
“The party hereby dissociates itself in totality from the said OK Movement PCC announcement. It did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media,” the Moses started.
In essence the party leadership was trying to make it sink real good that NDC is supreme. It’s bigger than any of its members, including the standard-bearers. According to Senator Moses, those running under the party’s platform must subject themselves to the party’s discipline and guidelines, and not trying to form parallel structures.
His words were as serious as they were unapologetic. Continuing, the National Chairman banned Ok Movement, any other group or individuals from constituting or publishing campaign structures or council without explicit approval from the National Working Committee (NWC).
“Henceforth, no individual or group is authorized to announce, constitute, or publish any campaign council, structure, or organ in the name of the party without prior approval from the National Working Committee (NWC),” the chairman continued.
OK Movement, on Thursday, published a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council comprising zonal and state coordinators. John Ughulu is named its Director-General, while Saadatu Sani serves as National Secretary.
The platform went further to appoint six coordinators for the six geopolitical zones in the country, thus giving the movement a national colour.
However, the NDC National Chairman said the party could no longer bear Mr Ugulu’s repeated disrespect to party authorities and so has referred him to be disciplined.
“He is hereby referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party for necessary action in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution,” Moses said.
With the brewing crisis gradually snowballing beyond control, NDC is ultimately matching towards a defeat in the 2026 presidential election which is only five months away.