The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is experiencing a fresh internal crisis due to disagreements over the role and control of support groups backing its 2027 presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso. The dispute centers on the relationship between the party and organizations such as the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, Obidient groups, and Kwankwasiyya. Some groups insist their existing structures cannot be placed under the direct control of the NDC.
The disagreement has become more pronounced after the NDC moved to establish clearer structures for support groups ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party maintains that support organizations must complement its official structures, while the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement insists that political cooperation does not mean surrendering its identity, leadership, or grassroots structures to the party. This issue arises as the NDC rejected a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council announced by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement on September 17.
The National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Cleopas Moses, stated that the public should disregard the campaign council because it did not originate from the party or receive approval from its National Working Committee. The National Leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, argued that support groups should focus on mobilization and support for candidates instead of creating structures that could compete with the party.
The OK Movement's Director-General, John Ughulu, responded that the movement was independently established and had developed its own structures across the country. Ughulu emphasized that members of the movement came from different political backgrounds but were united by their support for Obi and Kwankwaso. He argued that the movement's cooperation with the NDC did not remove its right to maintain its own leadership and organizational arrangements.
The OK Movement has maintained that its national, state, local government, and ward structures belong to the organization and would not be handed over to the NDC. In response, the NDC has taken steps to formalize its own presidential campaign structure, with consultations involving Obi, Kwankwaso, and its leadership ongoing before the official Presidential Campaign Council would be announced and inaugurated.
The NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, recently rejected the 59-member campaign council announced by the OK Movement, saying support groups should support the party rather than take on responsibilities belonging to the party. Obi emphasized that support groups must play their role as support groups, supporting the party, and not play the role of the party.
Other support groups, such as the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the Obidient Movement, have also weighed in on the controversy, calling for understanding between the political party and the various movements supporting the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket. The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, urged the different groups to avoid disagreements and recognize the party's position.
Key points
- The NDC faces internal disagreement over control of support groups backing Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso's 2027 presidential ticket.
- The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement has insisted that it will not surrender its identity, leadership, or grassroots structures to the NDC.
- Peter Obi rejected the 59-member campaign council announced by the OK Movement, emphasizing that support groups should support the party rather than take on party responsibilities.