2027: Obi, Kwankwaso supporters reject merging with other groups

The OK Movement, a group set up to support the joint ticket of Peter Obi and Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, said on Friday that they will not merge with any other political group ahead of the 2027 elections.

This group is made up of supporters from the Obidient Movement and Kwankwasiyya. They also denied rumors about plans to remove their Director-General and founder, John Ughulu. They said their grassroots structure is based on his leadership.

These decisions were shared in a communiqué released in Abuja, signed by the Convener, Ladipo Johnson, and National Secretary, Sadaatu Sani. This announcement came during a national leadership summit in Abuja.

The summit had many attendees, including national leaders, coordinators, and local mobilisers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Johnson explained that they will stay independent while still being open to working with other groups that have similar goals. The Lagos Central senatorial candidate for the NDC added that any forced merger could mess up their current plans and hurt the identity and grassroots support the movement has built.

“The Summit resolves that the OK Movement shall remain an independent organisation and shall not be merged into or absorbed by any external political body,” the communiqué said. “Independence does not mean isolation: we remain ready to coordinate closely with allied groups in pursuit of shared goals.”

This announcement comes during a time when many political figures are looking for alliances and coalitions to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the upcoming elections. But the OK Movement's leader stressed that keeping Ughulu in charge is important for the grassroots structure they have developed.

The group also warned that getting rid of the Director-General or losing their independence could ruin their grassroots setup. “The Movement was built ward by ward, largely on the personal credibility of its founder with the volunteers who make up its ranks.”

“Our loyalty is not to a title, but to the man who recruited, trained and stood with us. Should the Director-General be removed, or the Movement’s independence set aside, they have indicated that they would not continue to operate under the resulting arrangement,” Johnson stated.

The leadership also reached out to Ms Jacky Wayas, inviting her to return to the movement as Director for Strategic Implementation and Planning under Ughulu's leadership. The summit appointed Prince Suleiman Abubakar as Deputy Director-General (North) after Amb. Muhammad Auwal Musa resigned.

After the summit, the OK Movement leaders visited Kwankwaso at his residence in Abuja to update him on the summit's outcomes. “We also visited Alhaji Buba Galadima, the head of the movement’s Advisory Council, who reaffirmed the importance of unity within the movement and encouraged us to retain its independence.”

“Galadima also cautioned against any proposal to merge the organisation into the NDC party, irrespective of arguments that such a merger would improve efficiency. We hold the vision of a better Nigeria in the highest esteem and remain fully committed to that cause. We ask only that the collective will of the grassroots, freely expressed, be respected,” the communiqué stated.

This summit happened just a month after The PUNCH revealed tensions within the movement, following a serious leadership struggle that led to accusations and competing claims to leadership.