The Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has questioned the grassroots structure and preparedness of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general elections following the party’s unveiling of its National Campaign Council.
The Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, criticised the timing of the announcement, arguing that the party had delayed establishing its campaign machinery and lacked the grassroots network required to conduct a nationwide election campaign.
Ughulu made the remarks on Monday in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, a day after the NDC announced the composition of its campaign council ahead of its inauguration in the Federal Capital Territory.
He also claimed that some members of the newly announced council might eventually seek the OK Movement’s support and mobilisation network.
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“The funny part of this list is that 90 per cent of the people on it will still come knocking on the doors of the OK Movement to beg for the very structure they have failed to build themselves!” he said.
Ughulu further challenged the NDC leadership to explain its preparations for the election, questioning why the party was only announcing its campaign council at this stage.
“With less than three months to the general elections, they are only just announcing their Presidential Campaign Council. What exactly have they been doing all this time? Where is the structure? Where is the strategy? Where is the machinery required to prosecute a serious national election?” he asked.
The criticism comes amid growing disagreements between the NDC and the OK Movement over the movement’s organisational independence and its role in mobilising support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The NDC announced its National Campaign Council on Sunday, naming its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, as chairman and Obi as co-chairman.
The party’s National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, was appointed vice-chairman, while Kwankwaso was named co-vice-chairman.
Other appointees include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as chairman of the National Advisory Council; former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; former presidential candidate, Pat Utomi; and former National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, Buba Galadima.
The NDC National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, was named secretary of the council, while Ibrahim Abdulkarim was appointed Director-General.
However, Ughulu and the OK Movement’s state, local government and ward coordinators were not included in the announced list, a development that comes amid the disagreement over the movement’s place in the party’s campaign structure.
