Strong indications have emerged of an internal crisis within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after the national leadership of the party disowned a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) constituted by the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement. ​
The controversy broke on Saturday, September 19, 2026, following a press statement titled “Re: Purported OK Movement PCC Announcement” issued from the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses. ​
On Thursday, September 17, 2026, the leadership of the OK Movement, a prominent support group mobilizing for the 2027 presidential bid of NDC flagbearer Peter Obi and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso, unveiled a 59-member campaign council.
​The council list, which detailed zonal and state coordinators, was made public in a statement signed by the movement’s National Secretary, Saadatu Sani.
The structure named John Ughulu as its Director-General and was presented as an auxiliary structure expected to operate alongside the party’s main campaign organization. ​Rejecting the move, Senator Cleopas Moses declared the announcement unauthorized and null, warning the media and general public to disregard the list.
He stressed that candidates running on the party’s platform are bound by its constitution and cannot establish independent campaign structures. ​”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,” the statement read.
“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. Only the party’s leadership can constitute a PCC.” ​
The NDC chairman added that no support group or individual is authorized to publish campaign structures in the name of the party without prior approval from the National Working Committee (NWC). ​
The NDC leadership took a harsher stance against the campaign council’s designated Director-General, John Ughulu, citing past friction during the party’s Lagos State primary elections. ​
“For this act of affront and his excesses during the primary election in Lagos State, and for his repeated disregard for party authority, the party is constrained to enforce disciplinary measures against Mr. Ugulu,” Moses stated, noting that Ughulu had been referred to the party’s disciplinary committee.
​While acknowledging the role of voluntary support groups, the party warned them against operating as parallel organs or launching public attacks against party authority.
The NDC maintained that its official 2027 Presidential Campaign Council will be formally unveiled after ongoing consultations are concluded by the NWC.
