NEWS
OK Movement Operations Chief, Francis Nnoli, Resigns Over NDC Rift, Citing Structural Confusion Ahead of 2027
The National Head of Operations of the OK Movement, Hon. Engr. Francis Nnoli, has resigned from his position amid an emerging disagreement over the relationship between the support movement and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nnoli’s resignation has brought renewed attention to questions surrounding the organisational structure, political authority and coordination of support groups backing the emerging Obi-Kwankwaso political project.
His decision followed a disagreement over whether the OK Movement should function as an independent political support organisation or establish a formal working relationship with the NDC, the political platform associated with the joint 2027 presidential ambition of Peter Gregory Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Nnoli explained that his decision was motivated by concerns over political discipline, structural clarity and the need for effective coordination among support groups, political candidates and the party structure.
“Every support structure established around a political ticket must operate with a clear understanding of its relationship with the political party, its candidates and the broader political mandate it seeks to advance,” Nnoli said.
The resignation comes against the backdrop of a position attributed to the Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ugulu, who reportedly maintained that the movement is an independent organisation with no formal relationship with the NDC. According to that position, the movement does not require the endorsement or directives of the party to conduct its activities.
The development has subsequently exposed an organisational disagreement over how support structures connected to the 2027 political project should relate with the political party through which candidates are expected to contest the election.
The NDC has also reportedly distanced itself from a Presidential Campaign Council announced under Ugulu’s name, maintaining that the authority to constitute and officially announce such a council rests with the appropriate leadership of the party.
Against this backdrop, Nnoli said he considered it necessary to step aside rather than continue operating within a structure whose direction he could no longer support with full confidence.
“Where a movement exists primarily to mobilise support for candidates contesting an election under the platform of a political party, questions of coordination, authorisation, communication and institutional responsibility cannot simply be dismissed,” he said.
Despite his resignation, Nnoli made it clear that his decision should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from the broader Obi-Kwankwaso political project. Instead, he reaffirmed his commitment to its wider objective while calling for greater discipline and coordination among the various groups involved.
He also urged supporters to be cautious about creating parallel structures or issuing statements that could generate confusion over political authority, particularly as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
“The 2027 election will require more than slogans and organisational titles. It will require coordination, credibility, discipline, strategic thinking and a clear understanding of how political movements and political parties must work together,” Nnoli said.
The controversy highlights a broader organisational challenge that can arise when independent support groups operate alongside political parties, particularly where several structures seek to mobilise supporters around the same candidates.
With the 2027 electoral cycle gradually taking shape, the question of who has the authority to speak for a campaign, constitute campaign structures and coordinate grassroots mobilisation is likely to remain an important issue for the various political groups associated with the Obi-Kwankwaso project.
Nnoli’s resignation therefore represents not only a change in the leadership of the OK Movement’s operations but also a public indication of the differences emerging over how political support structures should be organised and aligned ahead of the next general elections.