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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.

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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.”

The movement said it recognised the supremacy of political parties within their constitutional and statutory spheres and would campaign for Obi and Kwankwaso as well as NDC candidates that it resolves to support across the country.

However, the group insisted that such support did not make it a subordinate structure of the party.

“We will campaign for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party. We will campaign for candidates of the NDC Party across the country where the movement has resolved to support them.

“But we do not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising our legitimate organisational functions,” Sani said.

According to her, the movement had developed a nationwide grassroots structure with an internal database representing approximately 2.5 million registered members and coordinators.

She emphasised that the movement was not a temporary support group created for the 2027 elections but an organisation with a long-term political vision.

The OK Movement secretary also rejected allegations concerning Ughulu’s involvement in the Lagos State primary and said they welcomed the opportunity to put their position on record.

Sani said they would not engage in what she described as personal insults, intimidation or defamatory exchanges, adding that they would continue to defend its members when their integrity was questioned.

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All Progressives Chieftain, Tajudeen Olesin, has said the personal ambitions, especially by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, were responsible for the face-off with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Kwara, some aggrieved APC leaders, including Olesin and some other members of The Otoge Progressives, have declared support for Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.

In an interview with Punch, Olesin claimed that Uzodinma was planning to become the Senate President in 2027, while Wike was supporting the return of the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

According to him, Wike has vowed not to support any candidate from the Southeast if Bola Tinubu is returning as President.

He said, “What is happening is that Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, wants to become the Senate President in 2027, whereas his governorship will finish by 2028. He plans to resign and give the governorship seat to his deputy, become a senator and contest for the position of Senate President.

“But Wike said he couldn’t support somebody from the South-East. If Asiwaju is coming back as the President, let the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, come back as well. That is why Uzodinma and the Kwara State Governor are fighting Wike.”

However, Special Adviser on Party Affairs to the Kwara governor, Mashood Alaka, alleged that Wike’s Rainbow Coalition was aimed at building a political structure that could position him for the 2031 presidential race.

Alaka said Wike was using the coalition and his support for Tinubu’s re-election to build alliances with politicians across party lines, particularly governors, ahead of the next presidential cycle.

He also questioned Wike’s rationale for supporting Tinubu for the presidency while backing opposition candidates for the National Assembly.

Alaka argued that Wike should either remain in the PDP and operate as a member of the opposition party or formally join the APC if he intended to work within its political structure.

According to him, the APC was capable of securing Tinubu’s re-election without Wike’s coalition.

He said, “What Wike said to the APC governors, especially Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Governor Hope Uzodinma, is out of order. He is a former governor and he knows how things work.

“The whole coalition thing is to mislead the APC into believing he is for them. Everybody knows that he has his own ambitions and is trying to get some of the governors to his side in 2027 ahead of 2031, so that he can be well-positioned to contest for the presidency.

“If you want to stay in the PDP, stay in the PDP. If you want to work with the APC, work with the APC.

“If truly he is supporting Mr President, he shouldn’t be fielding candidates for the National Assembly. If Mr President wins and his party is in the minority at the National Assembly, it is going to be an issue at the end of the day.”

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, has congratulated four candidates of the party who emerged victorious in Saturday’s legislative bye-elections across four states.

Yilwatda, in a congratulatory message, said the victories reflected the confidence reposed in the APC and its candidates by the electorate.

The four APC candidates declared winners are Kallamu Usman MaiJama’a of Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Husseini Datti of Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State, Okolosi Ator of Udu State Constituency in Delta State; and Yakubu Ali of Disina State Constituency in Bauchi State.

He commended the candidates, party leaders, state chapters, campaign teams and voters for their commitment to the democratic process.

Yilwatda also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders for their roles in the conduct of the elections.

His message reads in full: “To our victorious candidates, this victory is a call to service. I urge you to remain humble and committed to delivering purposeful representation to your constituents,” he said.

“I warmly congratulate the four APC candidates who emerged victorious in the five legislative bye-elections conducted by INEC on Saturday, 19 September 2026.

“My congratulations go to: 1. Hon. Kallamu Usman MaiJama’a of Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency, Gombe State, Hon. Husseini Datti of Dawakin Kudu State Constituency, Kano State, Hon. Okolosi Ator of Udu State Constituency, Delta State and Hon. Yakubu Ali of Disina State Constituency, Bauchi State.

“These victories reflect the confidence placed in our candidates and the APC by the electorate. I commend our candidates, party leaders, state chapters, campaign teams and, most importantly, the voters for their commitment to the democratic process.

“I also commend INEC, the security agencies and all stakeholders for their roles in the conduct of the elections.

“To our victorious candidates, this victory is a call to service. I urge you to remain humble and committed to delivering purposeful representation to your constituents.

“On behalf of the APC National Working Committee, I congratulate our candidates and the entire APC family across the four states.

“Together, we remain united and committed to building a stronger APC in the service of Nigerians.”