The Obidient‑Kwankwaso (OK) Movement said on Sunday it does not need personal validation from any individual in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to carry out its organisational activities.
National Secretary Saadatu Sani, in a statement issued in Abuja, dismissed a recent comment attributed to the NDC national chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas, and urged him to familiarise himself with the party’s constitution before making assertions. She said the movement recognises the supremacy of political parties under the constitution but remains an independent organisation with its own leadership and processes.
The OK Movement on Thursday unveiled a 59‑member presidential campaign council, naming John Ughulu as national director‑general and Sani as national secretary. The News Agency of Nigeria reported the unveiling. The NDC, however, on Saturday distanced itself from the purported council and asked the public to disregard it.
Sani said the movement will nonetheless campaign for the NDC presidential and vice‑presidential candidates and other party candidates it has resolved to support. She stressed that the movement was founded at the grassroots, does not depend on a single sponsor, and is not seeking political appointments or positions within the NDC as a condition for its backing.
The statement said the OK Movement has built a nationwide grassroots structure and maintains internal membership records alleging about 2.5 million registered members and coordinators. Sani described the group as more than an election‑cycle support outfit, calling it an organisation with a philosophy, structure and long‑term vision.
Responding to allegations about Ughulu’s role in Lagos State primaries, Sani said the matter deserved clarification and vowed to defend members’ integrity while avoiding personal insults or defamatory exchanges. She called on the NDC chairman to withdraw what she termed defamatory remarks and to apologise to the movement and Ughulu.
“The OK Movement will not compromise its standards. The OK Movement will not surrender its independence. The OK Movement will not be intimidated,” Sani said, reiterating the group’s focus on independence, accountability and long‑term objectives for Nigeria.
