State chairmen of the Nigeria Democratic Congress have rejected attempts by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, to operate separate campaign structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The chairmen insisted that the party’s structures remained supreme, arguing that the Obidient and Kwankwasiyyah movements were support groups and could not establish parallel structures or conduct campaign activities without the approval of the party.

The development followed disagreements over the relationship between the NDC’s existing structures and the support groups mobilising for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

On September 19, the NDC disowned a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council announced by the OK Movement for Obi and Kwankwaso, saying no individual, candidate or support group was authorised to constitute or announce a campaign structure in its name without approval from the National Working Committee.

The party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, also warned political support groups affiliated with the party against operating as parallel structures or competing with the party for control.

However, the Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, rejected the position, saying the movement would neither collapse nor surrender its structure to the NDC.

But several state chairmen maintained that the party remained the ultimate authority.

The NDC Chairman in Osun State, Charles Omidiji, said no movement or group was superior to the party.

He said candidates could undertake personal campaigns but must obtain the party’s approval and involve its structures.

Omidiji said the party would be held responsible for security and election-related activities involving its candidates and therefore could not allow support groups to operate independently.

He added that candidates who chose to campaign separately under their movements would be doing so outside the party’s formal structure.

In Ogun State, NDC Chairman Femi Alao said there was no disagreement with the OK Movement but stressed that all campaign activities had to be conducted with the approval of the party.

“There is nothing like disagreement between the NDC and the OK Movement. What we are saying is that the party is supreme and we should all come together to have a common front,” he said.

The Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Meriga, similarly said the Obi and Kwankwaso movements operated under the NDC and were required to obey the party’s rules and regulations.

In Anambra State, however, the party chairman, David Chukwudifu, alleged that the Obidient Movement had sidelined him and the 326 ward chairmen in the state.

Chukwudifu said existing party structures had been marginalised since the Obidient Movement joined the party on May 3, 2026, adding that the situation could affect the party’s preparations for the election.

He said the state chapter was awaiting intervention from the national leadership.

In Edo State, NDC Chairman David Olukoga described the OK Movement as one of several support groups operating under the party.

He said the party was preparing to inaugurate its campaign and would accommodate the various interest groups.

The NDC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Teddy Obey, also called for cooperation between the party and the OK Movement.

Obey said neither candidates nor support groups should operate independently, adding that the party was working to establish a common platform for the various groups.

He said, “The party has put a mechanism in place to accommodate everyone because the party is supreme.”

The National Convener of the OK Movement, Jackie Wayas, meanwhile, denied that the group was operating independently of the NDC.

Wayas said the movement was working to promote the party’s candidate and would support the party’s activities.

“There is no way the movement can work in isolation. The party is our party, and our principal is in the party,” he said.

In Adamawa State, NDC Chairman Ibrahim Bebetu also dismissed reports of a dispute, saying the campaign structure to be released by the national headquarters would accommodate all interest groups.

The NDC Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, Haruna Pai, said the issue had been resolved after meetings with leaders of the Kwankwasiyyah and Obidient movements in Abuja.

In Plateau State, the NDC created a Directorate of Support Groups to coordinate the activities of the various support organisations. The state chairman, Ndam Solomon, said the directorate would screen and register the groups to ensure a common campaign structure.

The NDC chairmen in Enugu and Akwa Ibom also reported harmonious relationships between the party and the Obidient Movement, while the Niger State chapter described its relationship with the movement as cordial.