The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of statements it described as defamatory by the National Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Moses Cleopas. The movement also warned that it would not be drawn into what it described as a politics of personal insults, intimidation and defamatory exchanges.
The National Secretary of the movement, Saadatu Sani, made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday. Sani said the leadership of the OK Movement had been informed of a recent publication attributed to Cleopas, adding that the tone and substance of the publication were unfortunate and reflected what the movement considered a serious misunderstanding of its character, structure, independence and constitutional foundation.
According to her, the NDC chairman should familiarise himself with the constitution of his own party before making sweeping assertions about the rights, responsibilities and independence of a political movement. The movement said it remained above what it described as personal political exchanges and would not allow its principles to be compromised for political convenience.
The OK Movement does not engage in such politics, and its ideology will outlive its founding members and every individual currently occupying a leadership position. The movement added that its principles cannot be compromised for political convenience, and its moral values remain its guiding principles.
On allegations concerning her involvement in the Lagos State primaries, Sani said the movement welcomed the opportunity to clarify its position and place the matter on record. She said the OK Movement recognised the supremacy of political parties within their constitutional and statutory responsibilities, as well as the importance of working with the NDC and supporting its candidates.
However, she stressed that the movement remained an independent political organisation with its own leadership, organisational structure, ideology and internal processes. The movement was built from the grassroots and was not dependent on the sponsorship of any individual or political office holder.
According to the statement, the OK Movement has developed a nationwide grassroots structure which, based on its internal membership records, includes approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators with supporting data. The movement maintained that it was not a temporary support group established for an election cycle but an organisation with a long-term political vision.
Key points
- OK Movement has 2.5 million registered members
- Movement rejects NDC's allegations
- OK Movement is an independent political organisation
