The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has demanded an immediate apology from the Nigeria Democratic Congress over statements by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, concerning its recently unveiled 59-member Presidential Campaign Council.
The movement also warned that it would not be intimidated or surrender its independence, insisting that it remained an independent political organisation with its own leadership, structure and internal processes.
The movement’s National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, gave the warning in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.
The development followed the NDC’s decision to dissociate itself from the campaign council unveiled by the group on Thursday to mobilise support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The NDC, in a statement by Cleopas on Saturday night, said the council did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded.
Cleopas also warned that no individual, candidate or support group was authorised to constitute or announce a campaign structure in the party’s name without prior approval from its National Working Committee.
But responding in a statement on Sunday, Sani described the position of the NDC chairman as unfortunate and said it reflected a misunderstanding of the movement’s character and independence.
Sani urged Cleopas to familiarise himself with the NDC constitution before making assertions about the rights and responsibilities of the movement.
She said, “The OK Movement does not engage in such politics. We will not be dragged into a politics of personal insults, intimidation or defamatory exchanges. We will continue to educate rather than abuse. We will continue to defend the principles upon which this movement was established.
“The NDC national chairman is therefore called upon to withdraw the statements considered defamatory and to tender an immediate apology to the OK Movement and to our Director General, Hon. John Ughulu.”
