The house of the opposition is shaking – and this time, the fight is over who owns the house.
Barely months to the 2027 presidential contest, a bitter turf war has erupted between the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, the Obidient Movement and the Obi-Kwankwaso, OK Movement over supremacy, structure and control of the campaign.
What started as whispers in WhatsApp groups has now exploded into open confrontation.
Dickson Draws The Battle Line
At the centre of the storm is NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, who on Tuesday slammed the brakes on what he called an attempt to build a party inside a party.
Receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the NDC in Abuja, Dickson warned bluntly: support groups must know their place.
“Support groups don’t compete for supremacy, for space. They don’t play the role of a political party. They don’t sponsor candidates,” he declared.
He was reacting to the controversial unveiling of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council by the OK Movement, a move the NDC has disowned and asked Nigerians to disregard. For Dickson, it was “nonsensical” and “unheard of.”
‘We Are Not A Support Group’ – OK Movement Fires Back
But the OK Movement is not backing down.
Its Director-General, John Ughulu, in a defiant response, rejected the tag of support group, insisting the movement is an independent platform only in alliance with the ADC/NDC ticket.
“They came and said, ‘Support group.’ We are not a support group,” Ughulu fired. “A support group is created under one party, funded and told what to do. You are not funding us.”
Ughulu maintains the movement will mobilise for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso but will not take orders from the party.
Babachir Lawal Dumps ADC
Adding drama to the crisis, Babachir Lawal, who just quit the ADC after its rancorous presidential primary, announced his entry into the NDC, declaring he could no longer stay silent while “poverty, hunger and insecurity” ravage the country.
