National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has asked the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to caution the Obi/Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement.

Dickson’s reaction followed the group’s decision to constitute a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council for the NDC presidential candidate.

Speaking while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the opposition party, Dickson said the responsibility of setting up a presidential campaign council rests with the political party and not a support group.

He described the decision by the OK Movement as “nonsensical” and warned the group against attempting to compete with the NDC or assume the role of the party.

Dickson said support groups were established to complement political parties through grassroots mobilisation and should not seek to exercise the functions of party structures.

“Support groups don’t compete with political parties that are sponsoring candidates. They don’t compete for supremacy or space. Support groups are what they are.

“They don’t play the role of a political party; they don’t sponsor candidates. They only provide grassroots mobilisation support. They don’t convert themselves into critics of the political party.

“We have thousands of support groups, and many more are welcome. Even the ruling party has several support groups. None of them will ever say they are setting up a presidential campaign council. It is uncalled for.

“It is unheard of, nonsensical! Those who have the duty to call people to order should do so,” Dickson said.