By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — The OK Movement, a political platform supporting the joint presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has demanded an apology from the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, over his comments on the movement’s 59-member Presidential Campaign Council, PCC.
The movement said it would not be intimidated and insisted that principles, integrity and established rules must prevail in its dealings with the NDC.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, the group described Cleopas’ position as unfortunate and said it reflected what it called a misunderstanding of the independent character and structure of the OK Movement.
The controversy followed the announcement by the movement on Thursday of a 59-member PCC comprising zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors for mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement said the council, headed by John Ughulu as Director-General, was established to take its message and programme to Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
However, in a statement titled, “Re: Purported OK Movement PCC Announcement,” the NDC National Chairman said the PCC announced by the movement did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media.
Cleopas said no individual, candidate or support group was authorised to constitute or announce a campaign structure in the name of the party without prior approval from the National Working Committee, NWC.
He also warned that members, candidates and support groups should not undermine or demarket the party, stressing that only the party leadership could constitute and announce a presidential campaign council.
Responding, Sani urged the NDC chairman to familiarise himself with the party’s constitution before making pronouncements on the rights and responsibilities of support groups.
She said the OK Movement respected the supremacy of political parties within their constitutional and statutory sphere, but that its support for the NDC did not make it a subordinate organ of the party.
“The OK Movement does not engage in such politics. We will not be dragged into a politics of personal insults, intimidation or defamatory exchanges.
“We will continue to educate rather than abuse. We will continue to defend the principles upon which this movement was established,” she said.
Sani called on Cleopas to withdraw what the movement considered defamatory statements and tender an apology to the OK Movement and its Director-General, Ughulu.
She said the movement would campaign for the NDC’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as other NDC candidates where it had resolved to support them, but maintained that it did not require the personal approval of any individual to carry out its organisational activities.
According to her, the movement has a nationwide grassroots structure with about 2.5 million registered members and coordinators in its database.
Sani also said the OK Movement was not a temporary support group created solely for the 2027 elections but a political movement with a long-term vision.
On allegations concerning Ughulu’s involvement in the Lagos State primary, Sani said the movement would continue to defend its members whenever their integrity was questioned.
She said the movement recognised the authority of political parties within their constitutional and statutory sphere and the need to work with the NDC and support its candidates.
However, she maintained that the OK Movement had its own leadership, organisational structure, ideology and internal processes.
“The OK Movement is bigger than any individual, office holder or group of individuals. The ideology upon which this movement was established will outlive its founding members and every individual currently occupying a leadership position.
“Our principles cannot be compromised for political convenience. Our words are clear, and our moral values remain our guiding principles,” she said.
Sani further said the movement was grassroots-driven and did not depend on the sponsorship of any individual or political office holder.
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