The Obidient-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has hit back at the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the controversy surrounding its 59-member Presidential Campaign Council, insisting that it does not need the personal approval or validation of any individual within the party to carry out its organisational activities.
National Secretary of the movement, Saadatu Sani, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, while responding to comments attributed to the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas.
Sani urged Cleopas to familiarise himself with the NDC constitution before making further assertions about the activities of the movement.
The controversy followed the unveiling on Thursday of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council by the OK Movement, with John Ughulu named National Director-General and Sani as National Secretary.
However, the NDC subsequently distanced itself from the council, asking members of the public to disregard the purported campaign structure.
Reacting, Sani said the OK Movement recognised the constitutional and statutory authority of political parties but maintained that it remained an independent organisation with its own leadership and internal processes.
She said the movement would campaign for the NDC presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as other candidates of the party in areas where it had resolved to support them.
“The OK Movement does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with established processes,” Sani said.
She maintained that the movement was founded from the grassroots and did not depend on sponsorship from any individual or political office holder to operate.
According to her, the OK Movement was not seeking political appointments or positions within the NDC as a condition for its support, stressing that its principles remained the basis of its activities.
Sani also claimed that the movement had built a nationwide grassroots structure, with internal membership records indicating about 2.5 million registered members and coordinators.
She described the organisation as more than a temporary support group created for an election cycle, saying it had its own philosophy, structure and long-term vision.
“We speak for Nigerians who are demanding a better political system, economic opportunity, accountability and a government that places citizens at the centre,” she said.
On allegations concerning Ughulu and his alleged involvement in the Lagos State primaries, Sani said the issues required clarification rather than what she described as damaging assertions.
She said the movement would continue to defend its members when their integrity was questioned, but would not engage in personal attacks, insults or defamatory exchanges.
Sani consequently called on the NDC national chairman to withdraw statements she considered defamatory and apologise to the OK Movement and Ughulu.
“The OK Movement will not compromise its standards. The OK Movement will not surrender its independence. The OK Movement will not be intimidated,” she said.
She added that the movement’s focus remained on organisational independence, accountability and its stated long-term objectives for Nigeria.
