The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has rejected a position attributed to the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, that support organisations should operate under the coordination of the political party backing their candidates.
The movement said it is an independent political organisation and argued that its collaboration with the NDC over the Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket does not make it subordinate to the party.
The disagreement follows Dickson’s earlier warning that support groups should not establish parallel structures or compete with the official campaign machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The OK Movement has now challenged that position, insisting that its organisational identity and structures should remain independent.
Its Director-General, John Ughulu, was reported as saying the status of the movement should be clearly distinguished from that of a conventional support group.
The dispute centres on the organisational relationship between the NDC and groups supporting its presidential ticket.
The OK Movement has argued that its collaboration with the party does not amount to surrendering its own structures.
Recent reports indicate that the disagreement has expanded into questions over campaign councils, operational structures and the authority to coordinate activities associated with the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
The development illustrates the organisational challenges that can arise when political parties work alongside movements and support organisations during an election campaign.
For the NDC, the issue involves maintaining a coordinated campaign structure. For the OK Movement, the central issue is its claim to independent organisational status.
Neither position by itself establishes how the eventual campaign structure will operate. That will depend on any formal agreements or decisions reached by the party and the movement.
The disagreement comes as political organisations prepare their structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.