Fresh cracks have emerged within the OK Movement crisis shaking the joint support platform for the Peter Obi Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket, after a bitter leadership tussle triggered accusations, counter-accusations and competing claims to the group’s control.
The OK Movement was set up as a political mobilisation platform to bring together supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, without forcing either camp to dissolve their existing structures. But in the last 48 hours, what was meant to be a unity vehicle has turned into a public fight over who calls the shots.
The crisis escalated after the movement announced the appointment of former Inter-Party Advisory Council Chairman, Peter Ameh, as its National Director-General in a statement signed by Jackie Wayas.
Wayas, who described herself as the National Convener, said the decision followed a meeting of the steering committee and that Ameh’s appointment was “unanimously approved” because of his political experience.
However, within hours, the announcement was rejected by another faction. Members questioned Wayas’ authority to use the title of National Convener, and repeated efforts to get clarification from her were unsuccessful.
Competing Claims Split the Movement
The dispute quickly moved from internal memos to the public space, with two different people laying claim to the office of Director-General.
Justin Ijeh, the immediate past National Publicity Secretary, acknowledged that disagreements existed but urged that they be handled quietly.
“There’s a reason I have not spoken up on this issue. I believe some things should be resolved behind the scenes,” Ijeh said.
“It’s okay to fight. If you’re not fighting, you’re probably lying to yourselves… We cannot be fighting a civil war when we have external aggression to deal with.”
Ijeh said he had stepped aside as spokesman “until they resolve issues,” and admitted the confusion was worsened by the fact that “two persons declared themselves DG of an organisation.”
On the other side, the movement’s Director-General John Ughulu dismissed Ijeh as a “sacked official” who now belongs to a rival group.
“No, Justin has been sacked long ago. He belongs to the other group. I had relieved all of them of their responsibility for us to move forward,” Ughulu stated.
He insisted the focus should be beyond 2027: “I want everybody to focus beyond the 2027 election, if by God’s grace, Peter Obi wins.”
Ughulu traced the origin of the OK Movement to early discussions about building a broader coalition. According to him, there was “an initial agreement between the two candidates, Obi and Kwankwaso, that this OK Movement would not be relinquished. It would still have to campaign for him in 2031.”
He also said Obi personally pleaded with him not to take the fight to the press: “Obi pleaded with me. He said, John, please, I beg you. Do not go to press. Do not say anything.”
Money, Structure and Obidient Movement Conflict
A major part of the fallout centers on funding and structure. Ughulu said he proposed raising money “from the streets by encouraging Nigerians to contribute N1,000 or N500” for posters and logistics, and that coordinators would not be paid.
He alleged that Jackie Wayas opposed the plan, leading to their fallout. “The same Jackie they are parading now used to work for me… People were bringing in illegal money. And I said, no,” he said.
Ughulu also defended his decision to keep the OK Movement separate from the Obidient Movement. “The mistake I made was that when they were appointing leaders for me, I was in America… Then Justin was brought in as our publicity secretary. I knew he worked for the Obidient Movement. Obi himself had given the warning not to mix the two.”
This has fueled what many now call an Obidient Movement conflict within the larger coalition.
Adding another layer, social media reports alleged that Obi had dismissed Dr Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, over financial impropriety. Both Tanko and Obi’s media office denied it.
“No, it is not true. It is somebody out there just flying a kite,” Tanko said. “I don’t have a separate account. I’m not even a signatory to the account of the Obidient Movement.”
Obi’s media aide Idris Zekeri also released a statement: “They dubiously try to ascribe their imagined words to our principal, aiming to create division in his fold… We implore our devoted supporters, including the Obidients and Kwankwasiyya movements, to disregard rumours.”
Tanko further downplayed any rift: “There is really no tension between us. We are just trying to work together as a team.”
What It Means for Opposition Unity 2027
The timing of the leadership tussle OK Movement is critical. Opposition parties are currently in consultations to present a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Ladipo Johnson, former NNPP spokesman, featured on Arise Television and called the dispute “a distraction at the moment.”
“It is not such, in my own humble opinion, that would lead you to take unilateral actions that could scuttle or bring bad blood within the support base of the person you purportedly want to become the president,” he said.
Johnson disclosed that Obi had been briefed: “I saw the presidential candidate last night along with the DG. He’s not happy about the whole situation.”
Ughulu explained that the name “OK Movement” was deliberately chosen to broaden appeal.
“There are people who so much love and want to support Peter Obi who are not Obidient members. If we decide to stick only to that, other associations and political parties will not want to associate with you,” he said.
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He added that consultations for the movement involved leaders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Akin Osuntokun.
Despite public assurances, the competing press statements, sack letters, and social media posts have raised fresh questions about cohesion. Political analysts note that for the Peter Obi Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket to be viable, the support structures must appear united, not divided.
For now, both camps insist the issues are “internal and resolvable.” But with 2027 campaigns already taking shape, the OK Movement crisis will test whether personal ambitions can be shelved for the larger goal of opposition unity 2027.
If unresolved, the infighting risks handing the ruling party an early advantage by portraying the opposition as fractured before campaigns even begin.
