The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has drawn a line between the party and a purported Presidential Campaign Council announced by the “OK Movement”, insisting that no support group has the authority to create a parallel campaign structure for the party.
The party also moved against John Ugulu, referring him to its disciplinary organ over what it described as repeated acts of defiance and alleged excesses during the NDC’s Lagos State primary.
NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, announced the party’s position in a statement on Saturday following a publication attributed to Ugulu announcing the purported campaign council.
Cleopas said the announcement was not authorised by the party and urged members of the public and the media to disregard it.
“The party hereby dissociates itself in totality from the said OK Movement PCC announcement,” he said.
The NDC said all candidates seeking elective offices on its platform remained subject to the authority of the party, its constitution and established disciplinary mechanisms.
It maintained that the power to constitute and unveil a Presidential Campaign Council rested with the appropriate organs of the party, particularly the National Working Committee.
The party warned individuals, candidates and support groups against announcing campaign councils or other structures in its name without the required approval.
The development exposes a fresh layer of organisational tension within the political movement ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly over the relationship between the formal party structure and groups mobilising support for its candidates.
The NDC, however, said it had no intention of shutting out support groups, acknowledging their role in mobilising Nigerians around its political platform.
But it cautioned that support organisations could not operate as parallel organs of the party or exercise powers reserved for its leadership.
Cleopas also appealed to members and affiliated support groups with grievances to use internal channels rather than engage in public exchanges with the party.
On Ugulu, the NDC said his case had been forwarded to the appropriate disciplinary body for action under the party’s constitution.
The party linked the decision to what it described as his conduct during the Lagos primary and his alleged repeated disregard for directives from the party leadership.
Despite the development, the NDC said it remained open to collaboration with support groups that recognised the authority of the party and shared its political objectives.
The party said its focus remained on an issue-based campaign ahead of the 2027 elections and its promise of “A New Nigeria that is POssible.”