{
  "id": 9810195,
  "title": "OK Movement defends independence, rejects funding claims over Obi-Kwankwaso campaign",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/ok-movement-defends-independence-rejects-funding-claims-over-obi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T18:21:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ripples Nigeria",
    "slug": "ripples-nigeria",
    "url": "https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/ok-movement-defends-independence-rejects-funding-claims-over-obi-kwankwaso-campaign/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement has firmly asserted its independence from both Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and the NDC party itself. In a statement issued in Abuja, the movement's Director-General, John Ughulu, emphasized that the organization's operations are solely based on its own principles, values, and organizational structure, without any financial support from the NDC or its presidential candidate. Ughulu clarified that the movement does not require any financial backing from the NDC to establish or operate its structure. This stance comes amidst a dispute between the movement and the NDC over the composition of the campaign team for the 2027 presidential election. The conflict arose after the OK Movement launched its own Presidential Campaign Council for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, which the NDC subsequently withdrew its support for. Ughulu argued that the movement's independent status grants it the right to create and manage its own organizational structures, contradicting the NDC's claim that only its National Working Committee could make such decisions. He also highlighted that the NDC's recent announcement of the registration process for support groups for the 2027 elections did not require approval from the NDC leadership for the OK Movement to proceed. Ughulu emphasized that the movement's independent status does not imply superiority or confrontation with the NDC, but rather a clear respect for institutional boundaries and the protection of its organizational independence.",
  "summary": "The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement has declared that it operates independently of both Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, insisting that neither the party nor its presidential candidate finances the movement’s activities. The Director-General of the movement, John Ughulu, made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday. Ughulu said the movement’s operations […] The post OK…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}