A leadership crisis has broken out within the OK Movement, a political support platform promoting the proposed 2027 presidential alliance between Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, as rival factions battle for control of the organisation.
The crisis came to the fore after Jackie Wayas, who described herself as the National Convener of the movement, announced the appointment of former Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, Peter Ameh, as the National Director-General following what she said was a meeting of the group’s steering committee.
Her announcement was, however, swiftly rejected by other members of the movement, who questioned both her authority to make such an appointment and her claim to the position of National Convener.
As the disagreement intensified, the movement’s immediate past National Publicity Secretary, Justin Ijeh, acknowledged that internal disputes had emerged but urged members to resolve their differences away from the public to avoid weakening the coalition’s political aspirations ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to Ijeh, the disagreement centres on the leadership structure of the organisation, particularly the competing 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.
However, the movement’s recognised Director-General, John Ughulu, dismissed Ijeh’s comments, insisting that the former spokesman had long been removed from office and no longer speaks for the organisation.
Ughulu accused a rival faction of attempting to hijack the movement, maintaining that those challenging the current leadership no longer represent the group’s interests.
He explained that the OK Movement was established as a broad-based political platform to unite supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso while complementing—not replacing—the existing Obidient Movement and Kwankwasiyya Movement.
According to him, the initiative was designed to expand Obi’s support base by attracting Nigerians beyond the traditional Obidient constituency.
Ughulu also defended his decision to remove Ijeh and distance Jackie Wayas from the movement, alleging that disagreements over the administration and funding of the organisation contributed to the leadership fallout.
The controversy coincided with reports circulating on social media alleging that Peter Obi had removed the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, over alleged financial misconduct.
Tanko dismissed the claims as false, insisting that he remains in office and has never been responsible for managing the movement’s finances.
“There is no crisis. We are working together as a team,” he said.
Peter Obi’s Media Office also debunked the reports, describing them as deliberate attempts by political opponents to sow division within the opposition camp.
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 of Tanko’s removal.
Also reacting, former spokesman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, admitted that disagreements existed within the OK Movement but described them as a temporary distraction rather than a major threat to the opposition’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Johnson disclosed that Obi had been briefed on the internal crisis and was unhappy that the disagreements had become public.
The leadership dispute comes at a time opposition groups are intensifying consultations aimed at building a united 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.