Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi has rejected the Presidential Campaign Council created by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, deepening debate over how support groups should operate within his 2027 campaign.
Obi made his position known during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, saying the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, remains the political platform responsible for setting up the official campaign structure. (Premium Times Nigeria)
Obi draws line between NDC and support groups
The former Anambra State governor said organisations including the OK Movement, Obidient groups and Kwankwasiyya should continue mobilising supporters but should not assume responsibilities reserved for the political party.
According to Obi, support groups have an important role in the campaign but should function in support of the NDC rather than create parallel structures bearing official party campaign titles.
Asked whether he approved the campaign council established by the OK Movement, Obi said he did not. (TheCable)
His intervention comes after days of disagreement between the NDC leadership and the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement over control and coordination of campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
How the campaign council dispute started
The OK Movement unveiled a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council on September 17.
The structure included zonal and state coordinators as well as officials responsible for mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security and legal matters. John Ughulu, director-general of the movement, was named to lead the campaign structure. (Punch Newspapers)
The NDC subsequently rejected the announcement, saying the campaign council had not been constituted by the party and should not be regarded as its official presidential campaign organisation.
NDC National Chairman Cleopas Moses said the party had not authorised the council and asked the public and media to disregard it. (Premium Times Nigeria)
The OK Movement responded by insisting that it was an independent support organisation and did not require the NDC’s approval to maintain its own internal structures. It has also said it will not surrender its organisational independence to the party. (Premium Times Nigeria)
NDC preparing official campaign council
Amid the disagreement, the NDC announced that Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had been given significant input into the composition of the party’s official Presidential Campaign Council.
The party said Obi and Kwankwaso would nominate key campaign officials in consultation with the NDC leadership.
Those positions include the campaign director-general, deputy director-general for the North, spokesperson, deputy spokesperson, head of new media and officials responsible for campaign finances. (Premium Times Nigeria)
The NDC said its official campaign council would be announced and inaugurated after consultations and nominations are completed.
What Obi’s intervention means for the dispute
Obi’s comments clarify his position in the disagreement by placing responsibility for the official presidential campaign structure with the NDC while recognising the role of independent support organisations.
The development also comes as political parties and candidates intensify preparations ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
For the NDC, attention will now turn to the composition and inauguration of its official Presidential Campaign Council and how the party coordinates the different groups campaigning for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
The OK Movement, meanwhile, has maintained that it intends to retain its identity and organisational structure while supporting the candidates.
How those structures work alongside the NDC’s official campaign organisation is likely to remain an important organisational issue as the 2027 campaign develops.
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