The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dissociated itself from the 59-member Presidential Campaign Council unveiled by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, describing the list as unauthorised.

In a statement on Saturday, NDC National Chairman Cleopas Moses said the campaign council did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media.

The OK Movement, a support group for Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had on Thursday unveiled the 59-member council comprising zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors responsible for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.

Moses said only the party leadership has the authority to constitute and announce a presidential campaign council, stressing that all NDC candidates remain subject to the party’s authority and discipline.

He warned members, candidates and support groups against creating or operating parallel structures in the name of the party without approval from the National Working Committee (NWC).

The NDC chairman also said John Ughulu, the movement’s director-general, would be referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ over what he described as his “excesses” during the party’s Lagos primary and his repeated disregard for party authority.

Moses said the party would continue to work with support groups but insisted that they must not operate as alternative or parallel party structures.