NDC, Obi-Kwankwaso camp at odds again over 2027 campaign structures

A fresh disagreement has emerged between the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and some support groups backing its 2027 presidential ticket over the party’s decision to register and coordinate political support organisations ahead of the election.

The disagreement has pitted the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and Kwankwasiyya groups against the party’s proposed structure, with the organisations insisting that their existing leadership and operations should remain independent.

The development followed the NDC’s announcement that the registration of support groups would be handled exclusively by its Directorate of Support Groups at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the registration was free and warned state chapters and party officials against collecting fees or independently registering support organisations.

According to him, the initiative was aimed at properly coordinating groups working to advance the party’s interests ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, the Director-General of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, John Ughulu, rejected the arrangement, insisting that the movement was an independent political organisation.

In an interview, Ughulu said the movement would not accept any attempt to take over or control its organisational structure.

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He said while the NDC had the right to establish and manage its own campaign structures, independent political organisations should equally be allowed to retain their leadership and internal systems.

“The OK Movement therefore makes it clear that we will not accept any attempt by any individual or group to undermine, appropriate, dissolve or otherwise interfere with the legitimate structure and leadership of the movement,” Ughulu said.

He maintained that independence meant the movement retained the right to manage its affairs within the law.

“The NDC has the right to constitute and manage its own campaign structures. Likewise, an independent political organisation has the right to constitute and manage its own organisational structures,” he added.

The spokesman of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habibu Muhammed, however, called for understanding between the party and the support organisations.

Muhammed attributed the disagreement partly to the process of building structures within a relatively new political party.

“The truth is that the NDC is evolving and they are trying to do things differently. That is why there are some forms of misunderstanding here and there. But I believe that at the end of the day, everybody will be on the same page,” he said.

He noted that movements such as Kwankwasiyya and the Obidient Movement had historically operated independently of political parties.

According to him, some members of the movements were not necessarily NDC members but were supporting the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket because of their confidence in the candidates.

Muhammed urged the party to develop a framework that would enable independent support groups to maintain their structures while working towards a common political objective.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, appealed to the groups and the party to avoid disputes that could distract supporters ahead of the 2027 election.

Tanko acknowledged the NDC as the platform on which Peter Obi is contesting and urged supporters to focus on the broader political objective.

“The party is a vehicle in which our principal is running. He is contesting on the platform of the NDC,” he said.

He added that legitimate processes capable of strengthening the party and its candidate should receive the support of the various groups.