Factional battles, rival claims, and sackings shake the coalition meant to unite Nigeria’s opposition ahead of 2027.
The OK Movement — set up to rally support for the joint ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso — is splintering. A fierce leadership war has erupted, unleashing accusations, rival claims, and sackings that now threaten opposition unity.
The crisis flared after Jackie Wayas announced the appointment of former Inter‑Party Advisory Council Chairman Peter Ameh as National Director‑General. Within hours, members challenged her authority, exposing deeper fractures.
Former spokesman Justin Ijeh, who spoke with The Punch, admitted tensions but urged restraint: “It’s okay to fight. But letting it spill into the public space is a big no‑no. The mission is to win elections.” He has since stepped aside until the dispute is resolved.
But current DG John Ughulu dismissed Ijeh as a sacked official and accused rivals of trying to hijack the platform. Ughulu insisted the OK Movement was designed as a long‑term coalition to broaden Obi’s base beyond the Obidient Movement, citing consultations with figures like the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Akin Osuntokun.
Ughulu also clashed with Wayas, alleging she opposed his push for grassroots fundraising: “People were bringing in illegal money. I said no. We agreed Nigerians should contribute N500 or N1,000 for posters and logistics. Jackie flared up and said no.”
Meanwhile, social media claims that Obi had sacked Obidient Movement coordinator Dr Yunusa Tanko over alleged impropriety were swiftly denied. Tanko stressed: “There is really no tension. We are just trying to work together as a team.” Obi’s media office also dismissed the reports as “fabricated distractions.”
Former NNPP spokesman Ladipo Johnson described the dispute as a “distraction” but warned it must not derail preparations for 2027. He confirmed Obi had been briefed and was unhappy with the situation.
The wrangling comes at a critical moment as opposition groups intensify consultations to forge a united front against the ruling APC. While leaders insist the crisis is internal and resolvable, the public spectacle of rival claims has raised fresh doubts about cohesion within one of the opposition’s most ambitious platforms.
