The battle between the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the O-K Movement and leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has become fierce, with national leader of the party, Senator Seriake Dickson, describing activities of the Movement as “nonsensical.”
The O-K Movement, meanwhile, has rejected the labelling, saying any attempt by the NDC to take control of its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections would spell disasters.
The movement said it would maintain its independent identity and would not allow its national, state, local government or ward structures to be absorbed into the NDC.
Its Director-General, John Ughulu, made the position known while responding to comments by Senator Dickson, on the role of political support groups in the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
Dickson had criticised the decision of the OK Movement to establish a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council, arguing that support groups should assist political parties rather than create structures that compete with the official machinery of the party.
Speaking on Tuesday while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the NDC, Dickson said support groups should concentrate on mobilisation and support for candidates.
“You have several support groups. Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy, for space.
“Support groups are what they are, support groups. They don’t play the role of a political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation support,” he said.
The former Bayelsa State governor also questioned the decision by the OK Movement to establish its own presidential campaign council.
“None of them will dare say they are setting up a presidential campaign council. It’s unheard of. Nonsensical. And those who have a duty to educate and call people to order should do so,” Dickson said.
But Ughulu disagreed with the description of the OK Movement as an ordinary support group.
He maintained that the organisation was independently established and operated its own leadership and mobilisation structures.
According to him, the movement brings together people from different political backgrounds who are united by their support for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NDC presidential candidate and running mate ahead of the 2027 election.
“I strongly agree with the position expressed by Senator Seriake Dickson. However, there appears to be a missing link in the argument currently being advanced.
“If the Obidient Movement is regarded as a support movement, and if the Obidients and Kwankwasiyya have equally been described by Idris Zekeri, while claiming to speak on behalf of Peter Obi, as a support movement, then it becomes necessary to properly define the identity and status of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the OK Movement is not a support group created as an appendage of any political party or another movement. It is independently organised, managed and structured through its own established movement mechanisms.”
Ughulu also rejected Dickson’s description of the movement’s campaign council as “nonsensical”.
He argued that the movement was not attempting to take over the responsibilities of the NDC.
“So, it is not nonsensical as claimed by Seriake Dickson; rather, the national leader of the NDC Party should come to realise that politics has long evolved from the conventional political system he is used to.
“The OK Movement comprises individuals and members from different political parties who share a common commitment to the ideals, values and political aspirations of Peter Obi.”
