The OK Movement has distanced itself from a disputed presidential campaign council, saying the arrangement was not officially authorised and Peter Obi had no knowledge of it.
The group’s spokesperson, Emmanuel Idakwo, made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, 8 October, according to Premium Times. premiumtimesng.com
How the disagreement began
The movement supports Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
A 59-member campaign council was announced in the movement’s name on 17 September. The NDC subsequently rejected the structure, saying it did not originate from the party and asking the public to disregard it.
The movement initially challenged the party’s position, arguing that it could carry out its own organisational activities without seeking approval from individual party officials.
Obi later rejected the council himself. Speaking on Arise Television on 24 September, he said support groups should assist the party rather than assume its responsibilities, TheCable reported. He also said the council had been formed without his approval. thecable.ng
Allegation against the APC
Idakwo said relations between the movement and the NDC leadership remained cordial.
He accused APC supporters of magnifying the disagreement online to portray the opposition party as divided. The reporting reviewed does not independently substantiate that allegation.
Premium Times said APC spokesperson Felix Morka requested questions by text when approached on Thursday, but had not responded by the time its report was published. premiumtimesng.com
The party’s campaign structure
In a separate announcement on 22 September, the NDC said Obi and Kwankwaso could nominate principal officers for its official campaign council, Channels Television reported.
Those positions included the director-general, campaign spokesperson, and senior finance officers.
That announcement concerned the party’s own council. Idakwo’s latest remarks do not establish that the disputed support-group council has been formally dissolved or that the NDC’s official council has since been inaugurated. channelstv.com, premiumtimesng.com
