2027 Crack In NDC Deepens: Obi-Kwankwaso Movement Dares Party, Rejects Registration Order
Fresh crisis has erupted in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) – the party that has adopted former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as its 2027 joint ticket.
The cause of the new fight is registration of support groups.
On Friday, NDC National Publicity Secretary *Osa Director announced that all support groups must register through the Directorate of Support Groups at the national headquarters in Abuja. He said:
> “The registration of support groups is the exclusive prerogative of the Directorate of Support Groups. Therefore, all inquiries and registration must be directed to the Directorate at the national headquarters in Abuja. The registration is free. It does not attract any fee whatsoever.”
Director warned that no state chapter, officer or official is authorized to register groups or collect money, and anyone who violates the directive will face disciplinary action.
OK Movement Says No
But the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has flatly rejected the order.
Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, told PUNCH in an exclusive interview that the movement remains an independent political organisation and will not surrender its structure to NDC.
> “The OK Movement therefore makes it clear that we will not accept any attempt by any individual or group to undermine, appropriate, dissolve or otherwise interfere with the legitimate structure and leadership of the movement,” Ughulu said.
He argued that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the NDC Constitution gives the party exclusive authority over an independent movement, and that the OK Movement does not need NDC approval to exist.
He also insisted the movement’s Presidential Campaign Council, which it recently launched, remains valid, and that the movement does not receive funding from Peter Obi or NDC.
Kwankwassiya Also Kicks
Spokesman of the Kwankwassiya Movement, *Habibu Muhammed*, said the disagreements are because NDC is a new party still building structures. He said Kwankwassiya has historically maintained independence from any party and will retain that while supporting the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
Meanwhile, some state chairmen are trying to manage the crisis. In Plateau, NDC Chairman *Ndam Solomon* said he has created a Directorate and appointed Obidient Coordinator *Dr Jerry Bako* to head it, to put all support groups under one front. Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Niger state chapters said they are working harmoniously.
This is the second public clash in one month between NDC and the Obi-Kwankwaso camp, raising questions about unity of the opposition coalition ahead of 2027.