A fresh disagreement has erupted among groups backing Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential ambition, with the United Kingdom Coordinator of the OK Movement, Adebayo Brown, accusing leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Campaign Council and the Obidient Movement of creating divisions among supporters.
The dispute followed claims that Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had distanced themselves from the OK Movement.
Reacting in a statement, Brown criticised the Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Moses Paul, accusing him of focusing on public disagreements rather than strengthening the movement’s grassroots structures and coordinating supporters ahead of the election.
He urged Paul and other campaign officials to concentrate on mobilisation, strategic planning and building effective structures, warning that internal disagreements could weaken efforts to rally support for Obi.
Brown said it was inappropriate for Paul to claim that Obi and Kwankwaso had dissociated themselves from the OK Movement without clear and verifiable communication from the two politicians.
He said, “The coordinator of the Obidient Movement does not automatically speak for Peter Obi, nor can he unilaterally determine or represent his interests and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Such positions should be established through clear and verifiable communication, not personal assertions.”
Brown also questioned the priorities of campaign officials, arguing that the approaching election required serious attention to grassroots engagement rather than public exchanges.
Despite the disagreement, he maintained that the OK Movement had no dispute with either the Obidient Movement or the NDC, insisting that all the groups shared a common democratic objective.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the OK Movement and the Obidient Movement are not enemies. Neither are we in conflict with the NDC. We have a common democratic challenge ahead, and the priority should be mobilising Nigerians, strengthening political structures, and working towards credible elections in 2027,” he said.
He also defended the National Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, against what he described as attempts to question his commitment to the organisation, urging him to remain focused on building the movement.
However, the NDC Presidential Campaign Council dismissed Brown’s comments as a distraction from its campaign activities.
The council’s spokesperson, Dr Constance Ikokwu, told The PUNCH that the campaign was concentrating on its immediate priorities.
“We’re heavily focused on the campaign right now. We don’t need unnecessary distractions,” she said.
Similarly, Chidi Iloamaeke, media aide to Paul, said the Obidient Movement coordinator was not a member of the OK Movement and had no reason to be involved in its internal affairs.
He explained that Paul’s responsibility as global coordinator was to manage the activities of the Obidient Movement and mobilise support for Obi’s presidential ambition.
“Dr Mo is not a member of the OK Movement. His office as the global coordinator of the Obidient Movement allows him to concentrate on the activities of the Obidient Movement as well as delivering the people’s mandate of ensuring that Peter Obi becomes the president of Nigeria come 2027,” Iloamaeke said.
He also urged eligible Nigerians to turn out in large numbers to vote for Obi in the 2027 presidential election.