The OK Movement, a political platform backing the joint ticket of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has rejected any proposal to merge the movement with the party or place it under the party’s control.
The movement said its political cooperation and alignment with the NDC did not mean it had surrendered its organisational independence, stressing that it remained a separate political organisation with its own structures and internal administration.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, National Director-General of the OK Movement, Hon. John Ozyl Ughulu, said the organisation was not established as a support group or an extension of any political party or organisation.
According to him, the movement’s structures at the national, state, local government and ward levels would remain under its control and would not be transferred to the NDC or any other organisation.
Ughulu explained that the OK Movement comprises members from different political parties who share a common commitment to the political aspirations of Obi and Kwankwaso.
He said the movement had the organisational right to create its own campaign and mobilisation structures in support of the candidates, adding that he was not aware of any provision in the NDC constitution that expressly prohibited such arrangements.
Ughulu said the movement had established structures across the country through the efforts and participation of its members and coordinators.
“Our position is therefore clear: The OK Movement remains an independent organisation. Its existence and internal administration are not subject to the internal management of the NDC Party,” he said.
He added that while the movement recognised the NDC’s constitutional authority over its internal affairs, it expected the party and other organisations to respect the OK Movement’s separate identity and structures.
Ughulu stressed that the movement was not claiming superiority over the NDC or attempting to take over any of the party’s constitutional responsibilities.
Instead, he said, the organisation wanted the freedom to select and support its preferred candidates, campaign on their behalf, mobilise voters, create its own operational structures and coordinate its members and volunteers.
“Our cooperation with the NDC Party should therefore be understood as political collaboration, not organisational subordination,” he said.
Ughulu further stated that the movement would resist, through what he described as lawful and democratic means, any attempt to take over its structures or alter its identity without the consent of its authorised organs.
He said the OK Movement would continue its mobilisation efforts in support of its preferred candidates and remain active in the democratic process.
“We will not be intimidated, we will not surrender our identity and we will not abandon the structures we have built,” he said.
