The internal dispute between the Obi/ Kwakwanso support group also known as OK Movement and the leadership of National Democratic Congress, NDC has escalated over the presidential campaign council set up by the movement ahead of the 2027 general election.

Recall that the Movement recently unveiled a 57 member presidential campaign council to work for the Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwakwanso ticket but the NDC issued a statement weekend and disowned the council.

Reacting to the development, the, OK Movement said tt does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) before exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with established processes.

The ‌‍‍‍‍‌OK Movement National Secretary Saadatu Sani said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Sani rejected a statement credited to the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas, urging him to familiarise himself with NDC’s constitution before making assertions.

Sani, in her statement, said the movement recognised the supremacy of political parties within constitutional and statutory spheres, but maintained that it remained an independent organisation with its leadership and internal processes.

She insisted that the movement would campaign for the NDC presidential and vice-presidential candidates as well as other party candidates where it had resolved to support them.

“The OK Movement does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with established processes,” she said.

Sani said the movement was established from the grassroots and did not depend on sponsorship from any individual or political office holder for its activities.

She added that the movement was not seeking political appointments or positions within the NDC as a condition for its support, saying its principles remained its guiding values.

She said the movement had developed a nationwide grassroots structure, with internal membership records indicating approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators, supported by relevant data.

The leadership of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has disowned the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, set up by the OK Movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This is contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Chairman, Cleopas Moses, on Saturday.

Moses stated that the announcement made by one John Ugulu was not authorised and did not come from the party.

According to him, going forward, no individual or group is authorised to announce, constitute or publish any campaign structure or organ in the name of the party without the approval of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.

The statement partly read: “The leadership of our party, the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, has noted with concern a publication credited to one John Ugulu, announcing a Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, under the guise of the OK Movement.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the party wishes to state categorically as follows: The party hereby dissociates itself in totality from the said OK Movement PCC announcement. It did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded by the public and the media.

“All candidates of the party must appreciate that they are not running as independent candidates. They are products of the party and remain subject to the authority and discipline of the party. Therefore, only the party’s leadership can constitute and announce a PCC.

“No member, candidate or support group should, under any guise, undermine the party or demarcate the party. The party recognises and deeply appreciates the contribution of all support groups and encourages their continued support. We welcome even more support groups who identify with our mission to rescue Nigeria.

“While the party will continue to work collaboratively with all support groups, such groups should not see themselves as alternative party structures or parallel organs of the party.”

25 decomposing bodies belonging to victims of a mass abduction that took place in four communities in Niger state have been recovered.

They were part of residents that were abducted by terrorists Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana in Borgu Local Government Area.

The bodies were recovered after the communities were reportedly alerted on Monday by the abductors to come and identify and retrieve the bodies.

The victims were said to be among about 500 worshippers abducted after Friday Jumm’at prayers on August 21, 2026.

25 bodies were recovered and later given a mass burial in a nearby bush.

The reported killings have heightened anxiety among families whose relatives remain in captivity, with residents saying they are increasingly uncertain about the fate of the remaining abductees.

A source said the abductors allegedly warned that more captives could be killed if their ransom demands were not met.

“They first asked each family to bring N10 million for each captive, but later reduced it to N5 million. There is no way we can afford it,” he said.