A strong indication has emerged of the huge prospect of an implosion in the Nigeria Democratic Congress ( NDC) one of the frontline opposition parties seeking to debut in the 2027 general election cycle.
This follows an emerging am yawn in the positions of the leadership of the party and the OK Movement, an in-house pressure group, regarding the Presidential Campaign Council ( PCC), which the movement jnveiked recently.
The PCC is to spearhead the presidential campaign of the party’s ticket jointly held by Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor, and his former Kano State Governor, Raniu Kwankwanso.
But the institution of the PCC, by the movement allegedly without following due process, has drawn the ire of the party ‘s leadership which has made its view known.
The national leadership of the party disowned the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council comprising zonal and state coordinators put in place by the OK Movement.
In a statement on Saturday, the National Chairman of NDC, Senator Cleopas Moses said that the PCC announced by the movement did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media.
The statement is titled “Re: Purported OK Movement PCC Announcement”.
According to the National Chairman, all candidates of the party must appreciate that they are not running as independent candidates against the backdrop that they are products of the party and remain subject to the authority and discipline of the party, just as he warned that only the party’s leadership could legitimately constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council PCC.
He said that no member, candidate, or support group should, under any guise, undermine the party or demarket the party, stressing that henceforth, no individual or group would be authorized to announce, constitute, or publish any campaign council, structure, or organ in the name of the party without prior approval from the National Working Committee (NWC).
The statement by the NDC National Chairman disowning the action of the group read, “The leadership of our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has noted with concern a publication credited to one John Ugulu announcing a Presidential Campaign Council under the guise of “OK Movement.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the party wishes to state categorically as follows:
“The party hereby dissociates itself in totality from the said OK Movement PCC announcement. It did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media.
“All candidates of the party must appreciate that they are not running as independent candidates. They are products of the party and remain subject to the authority and discipline of the party. Therefore, only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council PCC.
“No member, candidate, or support group should, under any guise, undermine the party or demarket the party.
“Henceforth, no individual or group is authorized to announce, constitute, or publish any campaign council, structure, or organ in the name of the party without prior approval from the National Working Committee (NWC).
The party recognizes and deeply appreciates the contributions of all support groups and encourages their continued support. We welcome even more support groups who identify with our mission to rescue Nigeria.
“While the party will continue to work collaboratively with all support groups, such groups should not see themselves as alternative party structures or parallel organs of the party.
“We expect a stop to unnecessary attacks against the party on whose platform our candidates are running. If there are any differences or grievances, support groups and members are advised to refer such matters to the appropriate authority.”
