The Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to explain its grassroots preparedness for the 2027 general elections, following the unveiling of the party’s National Campaign Council without representatives of the movement.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, criticised the timing of the announcement, arguing that the party had delayed organising its campaign machinery and had yet to demonstrate the grassroots capacity required for a nationwide election.
Ughulu made the comments in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, a day after the NDC announced its campaign council.
He claimed that the movement had built a stronger grassroots network and predicted that some members of the newly appointed council would eventually seek its support.
“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 also questioned the party’s campaign strategy and its ability to mobilise voters across the country, asking what it had been doing before announcing the council.
The criticism comes amid 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 Musa Kwankwaso.
The NDC named its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, as chairman of the campaign council, with Obi as co-chairman and Kwankwaso as co-vice-chairman.
The party’s National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, was appointed vice-chairman, while National Secretary Ikenna Enekweizu will serve as council secretary. Ibrahim Abdulkarim was named Director-General.
Other appointees include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; former presidential candidate, Pat Utomi; and former National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, Buba Galadima.
Ughulu and the OK Movement’s state, local government and ward coordinators were not included in the announced list.
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