The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress over the composition of its National Campaign Council, claiming it has a stronger grassroots network and questioning the party’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, said the NDC had delayed building its campaign structure, arguing that political ambition alone could not secure electoral success without effective mobilisation, strategic planning and coordination at the grassroots.
Ughulu made the remarks in a statement released to journalists in Abuja on Monday, a day after the NDC announced members of its campaign council ahead of its inauguration in the Federal Capital Territory.
He claimed the movement had established its organisational structures ahead of the electioneering period, predicting that some members of the newly announced council might eventually turn to it for mobilisation support.
He said, “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!”
Ughulu added, “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?”
The dispute reflects growing tensions between the NDC and the OK Movement over the movement’s independence and its role in the campaign for the party’s presidential ticket holders, Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
On Sunday, the NDC named its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, as chairman of its National Campaign Council, while Obi was appointed co-chairman.
The party’s National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, was named vice-chairman, with Kwankwaso designated co-vice-chairman.
Other appointments 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 also appointed its National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, as council secretary, while Ibrahim Abdulkarim will serve as Director-General.
However, Ughulu and the OK Movement’s coordinators at the state, local government and ward levels were excluded from the appointments.
The development follows a disagreement over the movement’s decision to establish a separate presidential campaign council. Dickson had described the move as “unheard of” and “nonsensical”, arguing that support groups should strengthen political parties rather than establish competing or parallel structures.
Speaking during the unveiling of Lawal in Abuja last month, the former Bayelsa State governor said the NDC was willing to work with support groups but expected them to operate within clearly defined roles.
READ ALSO: 2027: Obi-Kwankwaso Movement Unveils 59-Member Presidential Campaign Council
Ughulu, however, maintained that the OK Movement was an independent political organisation rather than a conventional support group. He insisted that it would retain control of its national, state, local government and ward structures instead of handing them over to the NDC or any other organisation.
He argued that electoral victories depended on sustained grassroots engagement and effective organisation, not merely prominent personalities appointed to campaign councils.
“Elections are not won by titles, press releases, political noise, or the number of big names on a campaign council. Elections are won through grassroots mobilisation, effective coordination, strategic planning, committed people, and a well-established structure that reaches every polling unit,” he said.
The movement’s director-general said his organisation had prioritised grassroots development long before the election campaign period approached.
“We did not wait for the election to approach before recognising the importance of grassroots organisation. We understood from the beginning that a presidential ambition without a functional grassroots structure is nothing more than a political wish!” Ughulu added.
He further suggested that political leaders who had criticised the movement might eventually need its organisational network as the elections drew closer.
But the question is: Will they respect the structure they are now coming to depend on?” he asked.
The NDC is scheduled to inaugurate its National Campaign Council and commission its newly acquired national secretariat in Abuja on Monday.
The events will also feature the presentation of Certificates of Return to the party’s candidates for the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly elections. The activities form part of the party’s third National Executive Committee meeting and are expected to conclude with a dinner.
Despite the disagreement, Ughulu insisted that the OK Movement would not accept a merely ceremonial role in the political project supporting Obi and Kwankwaso, saying its influence rested on its organisational strength and commitment.
“Leadership is not about who makes the loudest noise. Leadership is about who prepares, organises, builds, and delivers when it matters most,” he said.
He concluded, “The OK Movement is ready. The question is: are they? Nigeria will be OK.”