The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has distanced itself from a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council announced by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, a support group backing Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
NDC National Chairman, Cleopas Moses, said in a statement on Saturday that the campaign council did not originate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and media.
The OK Movement had on Thursday unveiled the 59-member council, comprising zonal and state coordinators and directors responsible for mobilisation, women’s affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.
Moses said only the party leadership had the authority to constitute and announce a presidential campaign council, stressing that all NDC candidates remained 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 said the party welcomed the contributions of support groups but insisted that they must not operate as alternative party structures.
Moses also said John Ughulu, director-general of the OK Movement, would be referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ over what he described as “excesses during the primary election in Lagos State” and repeated disregard for party authority.
He urged members and support groups with grievances to use the party’s internal mechanisms rather than resorting to public attacks.