The dispute over the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement’s campaign structure has opened a fresh disagreement within the NDC.
NDC national leader Seriake Dickson criticised the group over its 59-member presidential campaign council.
Dickson spoke after an NDC stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on 23 September 2026.
The controversy began on 17 September 2026, when the OK Movement unveiled its 59-member campaign council.
The group named John Ughulu as director-general and Saadatu Sani as secretary.
The council includes officials responsible for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security and legal affairs.
However, the NDC leadership rejected the structure two days later.
On 19 September 2026, the party said the campaign council did not come from its leadership.
The NDC urged the public and media to disregard the announcement.
The OK Movement later rejected that position and said it did not need individual approval.
The group said it remained an independent organisation with its own leadership and internal processes.
Dickson argued that support groups should focus on helping political parties rather than creating competing structures.
“Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy and space,” he said.
He said support groups should provide grassroots mobilisation without taking over the role of political parties.
“Support groups are what they are support groups. They don’t play the role of political party. They don’t sponsor candidates.
“They provide grassroots support and mobilisation. They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsored. They don’t attack the political party sponsored.”
Dickson also compared the situation with support groups linked to other political parties.
He said such groups do not normally announce presidential campaign councils independently.
“None of them (referring to support groups in other parties) will dare say they are setting up a presidential campaign council. It is unheard of. Nonsensical,” he said.
He also called on those responsible for guiding support groups to address the disagreement.
The OK Movement campaign council controversy comes as political parties prepare their structures for the 2027 elections.
The NDC has said it plans to inaugurate its official presidential campaign council after consultations with Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Dickson said the party understands the role of support groups and remains willing to work with them, he also said he had held meetings with Obidient groups.
According to him, having more support groups within the NDC should strengthen the party’s grassroots presence.
