2027: Leadership Tussle Hits OK Movement

Fresh cracks have emerged within the OK Movement, a prominent political support platform established to mobilize backing for the joint ticket of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential hopeful Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

A bitter leadership tussle has triggered fierce accusations, counter-accusations, and competing claims to the group’s control.

The crisis escalated after the movement announced the appointment of former Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, Peter Ameh, as its National Director-General.

The appointment was made public in a statement signed by Jackie Wayas, who identified herself as the National Convener of the movement following a steering committee meeting.

Wayas noted that Ameh’s appointment was unanimously approved due to his vast political experience.

However, the announcement immediately sparked controversy, with several members questioning Wayas’s authority to act as national convener and exposing a deeper, underlying leadership dispute.

John Ughulu, the movement’s Director-General, dismissed the factional appointments, labeling former National Publicity Secretary Justin Ijeh and others as sacked officials attempting to hijack the organization.

Ughulu stressed that he had previously relieved them of their duties due to ideological differences and attempts to improperly mix the leadership structures of the OK Movement with the broader Obidient Movement—a move he claimed Peter Obi himself had warned against.

Ijeh acknowledged the existence of internal disagreements but criticized bringing them into the public domain, stating that his primary focus remains achieving electoral success.

He announced he had stepped aside as spokesperson until the factions resolve their issues.

Amid the internal wrangling, separate rumors surfaced on social media claiming that Peter Obi had dismissed the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, over alleged financial impropriety.

Both Dr. Tanko and Obi’s media office, led by Idris Zekeri, vehemently dismissed the reports as fabricated stories intended to create artificial rifts and distract supporters.

Tanko insisted there was no tension between the Obidient Movement and the OK Movement, emphasizing a shared commitment to teamwork.

Weighing in on the dispute, former New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) spokesperson Ladipo Johnson acknowledged the distractions during an appearance on Arise Television.

He confirmed that Peter Obi had been briefed on the developments and was deeply unhappy with the public infighting, urging stakeholders to prioritize the broader goal of uniting the opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.