That Is Not True!’ — Obi, Kwankwaso Camps Fire Back At Rift Claims Over NDC Campaign Council

The denial followed reports that loyalists of both politicians were competing for key positions in the campaign structure ahead of the commencement of presidential and National Assembly campaigns on August 19.

Some party sources had claimed that consultations over the composition of the council were creating tension among stakeholders.

However, officials representing both camps, as well as the NDC leadership, dismissed the reports, maintaining that consultations were still ongoing and that no final list had been released.

The spokesman for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habibu Muhammed, described the alleged infighting as mere speculation.

“That is speculation. There is no power tussle anywhere or infighting over who makes the NDC presidential campaign council,” he said.

Muhammed explained that the party leadership, Obi, Kwankwaso and other stakeholders were still consulting on the structure of the campaign council.

“The party, the presidential candidate and other stakeholders are actually collecting details and working on them. I believe once everything is concluded officially, the membership list will be released,” he told The PUNCH.

He noted that the delay was not unusual, pointing out that other major political parties had also yet to unveil their campaign structures.

Support Groups to Be Coordinated

Muhammed disclosed that the NDC was also working on how to effectively coordinate the various support groups that have emerged around the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

“There are also several support groups springing up in the party. We think the best way is for us to have maybe a directorate or somewhere they will also be interconnected instead of allowing people to just be doing things that spring out of control,” he said.

He also rejected suggestions that party members were competing for lucrative positions within the proposed campaign council.

According to him, the council should be viewed as an avenue for service rather than an opportunity for personal gain.

“The campaign council is a call for service, so I don’t think people will kill themselves over what role to play if truly they want the party to win the election and our principals to be up there,” he said.

The NDC Lagos Central senatorial candidate and Kwankwaso spokesman, Ladipo Johnson, similarly questioned the basis of the reported disagreement, noting that the campaign council had not yet been formally constituted.

“I am wondering how some persons will be aggrieved over an NDC list that hasn’t been compiled yet,” he said.

He added:

“Shouldn’t they wait for the list to be out to confirm whether they make the team or not before agitation?”

Johnson said candidates contesting at various levels would still be expected to campaign for the presidential ticket, regardless of whether they were appointed to the national campaign council.

Reconciliation Committee Not Linked to Rift

Muhammed also dismissed suggestions that the NDC’s recently established reconciliation committee was evidence of disagreements between supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso.

He explained that the committee was created primarily to address grievances arising from the party’s primaries and encourage aspirants who lost their bids to remain committed to the party.

“That one is also part of the move by the party to make sure that those that have lost in the primary elections or who could not emerge as the candidates of the party were persuaded to be able to feel that they are part of the party,” he said.

He added that the party was completing its consultations ahead of the announcement of the campaign council and its Director-General.

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, also urged supporters to see participation in the campaign council as an opportunity to serve rather than pursue personal interests.

“For us in the Obidient Movement, it’s still about service. If I’m worthy to serve in a particular place, I serve. If I’m not worthy to serve in a particular place, I will leave it so that somebody else, who is better, can come and serve,” Tanko said.

Similarly, the Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, acknowledged that disagreements could occur during preparations for political campaigns but said his organisation would not interfere in the party’s internal affairs.

“We are waiting for the leaders to decide, and we wouldn’t like to dabble in the party affairs. We are more interested in supporting and campaigning for our principals,” he said.

The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, also dismissed reports of a struggle for positions within the proposed council.

“That is not true,” he said.

He explained that the party leadership was consulting relevant stakeholders with the aim of creating a broad-based campaign council.

2027 Race Takes Shape

The controversy comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the particulars and credentials of the 19 presidential candidates and their running mates ahead of the 2027 general election.

The publication was made pursuant to Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, allowing eligible Nigerians to scrutinise the information submitted by the presidential candidates.

Obi is contesting the 2027 presidential election on the NDC platform with Kwankwaso as his running mate.

President Bola Tinubu is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also contesting under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.