A leadership dispute has broken out within the OK Movement, a political support platform promoting a proposed 2027 presidential alliance between Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, with rival factions laying claim to the organisation’s leadership.
The crisis escalated after Jackie Wayas, who identified herself as the National Convener of the movement, announced the appointment of former Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, Peter Ameh, as the group’s National Director-General. She said the appointment followed a meeting of the movement’s steering committee.
However, the announcement was immediately rejected by other members of the organisation, who questioned Wayas’ authority to make such an appointment and disputed her claim to the position of National Convener.
The movement’s immediate past National Publicity Secretary, Justin Ijeh, acknowledged that internal disagreements exist but urged members to settle their differences privately to avoid damaging the coalition’s broader political objectives.
According to Ijeh, the dispute centres on the leadership structure of the organisation, including conflicting claims to the office of Director-General.
“I have stepped aside as spokesman until these issues are resolved. When two people claim to be Director-General of the same organisation, it becomes difficult to speak for the movement,” he said.
But the movement’s recognised Director-General, John Ughulu, dismissed Ijeh’s comments, insisting that the former spokesman had long been removed from office.
Ughulu accused a rival faction of attempting to hijack the organisation, maintaining that those challenging his leadership no longer represent the movement.
He explained that the OK Movement was established as a long-term political platform to unite supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso without replacing existing groups such as the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
According to him, the platform was created to expand Obi’s political support beyond his traditional base by attracting Nigerians from other political backgrounds.
Ughulu also defended his decision to remove Ijeh and distance Jackie Wayas from the movement, alleging that disagreements over the management and funding of the organisation contributed to the current crisis.
The leadership dispute coincided with reports circulating on social media claiming that Peter Obi had removed the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, over alleged financial misconduct.
Tanko dismissed the reports as false, insisting he remains in office and has no involvement in the movement’s finances.
“There is no crisis. We are working together as a team,” he said.
Peter Obi’s Media Office also denied the reports, describing them as a deliberate attempt by political opponents to sow division within the opposition.
In a statement signed by Obi’s media aide, Idris Zekeri, the office urged supporters to disregard what it described as fabricated claims, including reports that Tanko had been removed from his position.
Former spokesman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, also acknowledged the disagreements within the OK Movement but described them as a temporary distraction rather than a serious threat to the opposition’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Johnson revealed that Obi had been briefed on the situation and was displeased that the disagreements had become public.
The crisis comes as opposition figures continue consultations aimed at building a united political front ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the OK Movement expected to play a significant role in mobilising support for the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance.