The OK Movement, a political support platform backing the joint presidential ticket of Peter Obi and former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, has been thrown into turmoil following a leadership dispute that has produced rival claims to its top office.
The crisis erupted after a statement signed by Jackie Wayas, who described herself as the movement’s National Convener, announced the appointment of former Inter-Party Advisory Council Chairman Peter Ameh as National Director-General. The claim was quickly disputed, with several members questioning Wayas’ authority to speak for the group. Efforts to reach her for clarification were unsuccessful.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, dismissed the rival announcement and accused a faction led by Wayas and former spokesman Justin Ijeh of attempting to hijack the organisation, insisting both had already been relieved of their roles over what he described as partisanship and unauthorised fundraising.
“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 said, adding that Obi had personally appealed to him not to take the dispute public.
Ijeh, however, pushed back on being called a sacked official, arguing that the conflict stemmed from competing claims to the DG position and should be resolved privately rather than in the media.
“It’s okay to fight. If you’re not fighting, you’re probably lying to yourselves. It’s not the worst thing that there are differences, but to let them come out into the public space is a big no-no for me,” he said.
Ughulu traced the group’s origins to a coalition-building effort involving Obi, Kwankwaso and political elders, saying it was designed as a long-term platform to widen Obi’s support base beyond the Obidient Movement, and stressed that Obi had personally warned against mixing the two structures.
Separately, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, denied social media reports claiming he had been sacked over financial impropriety, insisting he holds no signatory role over the group’s accounts. Obi’s media office, in a statement by aide Idris Zekeri, similarly dismissed the reports as an attempt by political adversaries to sow division.
Former NNPP spokesman Ladipo Johnson described the rift as a distraction rather than a existential threat to the movement, revealing that Obi had been briefed and was displeased with how the dispute had played out.
“I saw the presidential candidate last night (Thursday) along with the DG. He’s not happy about the whole situation,” Johnson said.
The dispute comes as opposition figures continue consultations toward a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
— Ogbeni Olawale Dawodu
