Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has rejected the Presidential Campaign Council announced by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, stating that he was not consulted before the structure was created.
Obi made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time, where he addressed the disagreement between the NDC and the OK Movement over the movement’s 59-member campaign council.
The development highlights a dispute over the relationship between political parties and support organisations operating around presidential candidates.
Obi Questions the Campaign Council’s Formation
Obi said he was not consulted before the creation of the OK Movement’s campaign council and therefore did not approve the list.
The disagreement centres on whether the movement’s campaign structure can operate independently or whether it should be coordinated through the political party sponsoring the presidential candidacy.
Obi’s comments align with the position that political parties retain the formal organisational role in election campaigns, while support groups can assist with mobilisation and advocacy.
Party Structures and Support Groups
Political campaigns often involve a combination of registered party structures, support groups, volunteer organisations and informal networks.
The legal and organisational responsibilities of each structure can differ, particularly in relation to campaign financing, official representation and electoral compliance.
In the present dispute, the NDC and the OK Movement have expressed different positions regarding the authority and status of the campaign council.
The Wider 2027 Political Context
The disagreement comes as opposition parties and political support groups organise for the 2027 general election.
The debate over the campaign council also illustrates the importance of coordination, consultation and clearly defined responsibilities among political organisations working around a presidential candidate.
The immediate outcome will depend on how the NDC and the OK Movement address the organisational disagreement and whether a common campaign structure is established.