The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dissociated itself from a purported Presidential Campaign Council announced by the OK Movement, saying the structure did not receive approval from the party.
The party also referred the leader of the movement, John Ugulu, to its appropriate disciplinary organ over what it described as an affront to the party, alleged excesses during the Lagos State primary and repeated disregard for party authority.
In a press statement dated September 19, 2026, and signed by the National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, the NDC said it had noted with concern a publication credited to Ugulu announcing a Presidential Campaign Council under the name 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,” the statement said.
The NDC stressed that its candidates are contesting elections on the platform of the party and are therefore subject to its authority and discipline.
“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,” it said.
According to the party, only its leadership has the authority to constitute and announce a Presidential Campaign Council. It consequently warned members, candidates and support groups against creating or publicising structures in the party’s name without approval from the National Working Committee.
“Henceforth, no individual or group is authorized to announce, constitute, or publish any campaign council, structure, or organ in the name of the party without prior approval from the National Working Committee (NWC),” the statement said.
The party, however, said it recognised the contributions of support groups and would continue to welcome groups aligned with its political objectives.
It clarified that such groups must operate within the limits of their role and should not present themselves as alternative structures or parallel organs of the NDC.
“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,” the statement added.
The NDC also called on members and support groups with complaints or disagreements to use the party’s internal mechanisms rather than attacking the party publicly.
“We expect a stop to unnecessary attacks against the party on whose platform our candidates are running. If there are any differences or grievances, support groups and members are advised to refer such matters to the party through appropriate internal channels for resolution rather than resorting to public attacks,” it said.
On Ugulu, the party said his conduct had led to disciplinary action.
“For this act of affront and his excesses during the primary election in Lagos State, and for his repeated disregard for party authority, the party is constrained to enforce disciplinary measures against Mr. Ugulu,” the NDC said.
“He is hereby referred to the appropriate disciplinary organ of the party for necessary action in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution.”
The development comes against the backdrop of recent legal developments involving the NDC’s registration.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja recently upheld the registration of the NDC, overturning a Federal High Court judgment that had set aside an earlier order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
The appellate court, in a 2–1 majority decision, held that the Federal High Court in Lokoja was wrong to revisit its earlier final judgment ordering INEC to register the NDC.
The dispute arose after INEC initially refused to register the party, prompting the NDC to approach the Federal High Court in Lokoja. On December 10, 2025, the court ordered INEC to register the party.
The judgment was later challenged after the Peace Movement Party (PMP) raised concerns over the similarity between its logo and that of the NDC and argued that it should have been included in the original proceedings.
Justice Isah Dashen subsequently set aside the earlier judgment on June 26, 2026, directing that the case return to its pre-December 2025 position for a fresh hearing.
The NDC appealed the decision, arguing that the Federal High Court could not reopen its final judgment in the manner it had done and that PMP, as an unregistered political association, lacked the standing to seek such an order.
The Court of Appeal majority agreed with the NDC on the central issue, holding that a trial court cannot sit on appeal over its own final judgment, except in limited circumstances such as correcting clerical errors.
One of the three justices, Justice Okon Abang, however, dissented. He held that the NDC’s original case was filed outside the period allowed by law and questioned the choice of the Lokoja division of the Federal High Court to challenge INEC’s decision.
