OK Movement rejects Dickson’s position, insists it is independent political organisation

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has rejected the position of the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, that support groups must operate under the coordination of the political party sponsoring candidates.

The movement described itself as an independent political organisation, insisting that its collaboration with the NDC over the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso does not amount to organisational subordination.

In a statement signed by its National Director-General, Hon. John Ozyl Ughulu, the OK Movement said it had the right to maintain its structures, coordinate its members and establish its own campaign and mobilisation mechanisms.

Ughulu was reacting to comments by Dickson that support groups should focus on grassroots mobilisation for NDC candidates rather than assume the functions of the political party or establish parallel presidential campaign structures.

Dickson had said on Tuesday, “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.”

But Ughulu said the description did not apply to the OK Movement in the same manner as other support groups.

“If the Obidient Movement is regarded as a support movement, and if the Obidient Kwankwasiyya Movement has equally been described 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,” he said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the OK Movement is an independent political organisation. It 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 disagreed with Dickson’s description of the establishment of a separate campaign council by a support organisation as “nonsensical”.

He argued that political organisation had evolved beyond conventional party structures.

“So it is not nonsensical as claimed by His Excellency Seriake Dickson. Rather, the National Leader of the NDC Party should come to reality that politics has long evolved from the conventional political system he is used to,” Ughulu said.

According to him, the OK Movement comprises individuals drawn from different political parties who share common political interests around Obi and Kwankwaso, the NDC’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

“The OK Movement comprises individuals and members from different political parties who share a common commitment to the ideals, values and political aspirations represented by the presidential candidate, His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate of the NDC Party, His Excellency Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” he said.

Ughulu said the movement’s relationship with the NDC should therefore be viewed as political cooperation rather than organisational control.

“Our cooperation with the NDC Party should therefore be understood as political collaboration, not organisational subordination,” he said.

He said the OK Movement would continue to mobilise voters and campaign for the NDC presidential ticket while retaining control of its internal structures.

“The OK Movement remains an independent organisation. Its existence and internal administration are not subject to the internal management of the NDC Party,” Ughulu said.

“Our loyalty to our preferred candidates is unwavering. We will mobilise, campaign, vote and defend every legitimate vote cast for the candidates we support.”

The movement also rejected any proposal to merge its structures with those of the NDC or another organisation.

“The OK Movement will not be collapsed, merged or subsumed into the NDC Party or any other organisation.

“Cooperation and political alignment do not extinguish the independent identity of the Movement,” the statement said.

Ughulu added that the movement would retain control of its national, state, local government and ward structures.

“Our organisational structure remains the property and responsibility of the OK Movement. We will not surrender our established national, state, local government and ward structures to any political party or external support group for management,” he said.

He also stressed that the movement did not intend to become financially dependent on the NDC, saying its activities and mobilisation efforts would remain the responsibility of its members.

On the issue of campaign structures, Ughulu maintained that the movement had the organisational right to establish its own campaign council and operational structures in support of Obi and Kwankwaso.

“The Movement has the legitimate organisational right to establish its own campaign structure and strategy,” he said.

“We are not aware of any provision of the NDC Party constitution that expressly prohibits an independent political organisation from establishing its own campaign council or mobilisation structure in support of the party’s candidates.”

Ughulu said the movement was not seeking supremacy over the NDC or attempting to exercise the constitutional powers of the party.

“The OK Movement does not claim supremacy over the NDC Party, nor does it seek to usurp the constitutional powers of the party,” he said.

Rather, he said, the movement was seeking recognition of its right to choose and support candidates, campaign for them, mobilise voters, coordinate its members and volunteers, and establish its own operational structures.

According to Ughulu, the movement has built structures across the country through the efforts of thousands of members and coordinators and would resist any attempt to dissolve or appropriate them without the consent of its legitimate organs.

“We did not build the OK Movement overnight. Its structures were established through the commitment, sacrifice and participation of thousands of members and coordinators across the country,” he said.

“No individual can simply declare that structure dissolved, transferred or absorbed without the authority of the Movement’s legitimate organs.”

Despite the disagreement, the OK Movement said it remained committed to working with the NDC and supporting its presidential ticket in the 2027 election.

“The OK Movement respects the NDC Party and recognises the constitutional authority of the party over its own internal affairs.

“Equally, the NDC Party and every other organisation must recognise the independent identity, structure and legitimate interests of the OK Movement,” the statement said.

The movement said any disagreement would be pursued through lawful and democratic channels, while reaffirming its commitment to peaceful participation in the electoral process.

“We will not be intimidated. We will not surrender our identity. We will not abandon the structures we have built,” Ughulu said.

“And above all, we will continue to participate peacefully, lawfully and decisively in the democratic process and defend every legitimate mandate entrusted to us by the Nigerian people.”

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