ABUJA, NIGERIA — The OK Movement, a political platform established to mobilise support for the joint ticket of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has officially ruled out any merger with an external political organisation ahead of the 2027 general elections .
The group, a coalition of supporters drawn from the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya, also rejected what it described as a rumoured plot to remove its founder and Director-General, John Ughulu, insisting that the movement’s grassroots structure is inextricably linked to his leadership .
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued on Friday at the conclusion of the movement’s National Leadership Summit in Abuja. The summit was attended by national leaders, zonal and state coordinators, as well as local government and ward-level mobilisers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory . The communiqué was signed by the Convener, Ladipo Johnson; Deputy Director-General (North), Prince Suleiman Abubakar; Deputy Director-General (South), Mrs Oluwatoyin Lanihun; and National Secretary, Saadatu Mohammed Sani .
The movement’s decision to reject a merger is a significant statement in the context of ongoing political realignments, where various opposition figures and groups are exploring alliances to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress . However, the OK Movement has chosen a path of independence, arguing that any externally imposed consolidation could disrupt ongoing programmes, blur its identity, and undermine the grassroots momentum it 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 stated, adding that “independence does not mean isolation” and that the group remains ready to coordinate with allied groups .
Central to the summit’s resolutions was the unwavering endorsement of John Ughulu as the movement’s founder and Director-General. The leadership argued that the decision was based on the practical realities of the organisation’s structure. “The Movement was built ward by ward, largely on the personal credibility of its founder with the volunteers who make up its ranks,” the communiqué explained . It added that the loyalty of its members was not to a title but to the man who recruited and trained them . The movement warned that removing Ughulu or compromising its independence could lead to the collapse of its grassroots structure, with state and ward leaders indicating they would not continue under a different arrangement .
In a move aimed at fostering unity, the summit extended an invitation to Ms Jacky Wayas to return to the movement as Director for Strategic Implementation and Planning, working under the Director-General . The summit also appointed Prince Suleiman Abubakar as Deputy Director-General (North), following the resignation of Ambassador Muhammad Auwal Musa . After the summit, the leadership visited Kwankwaso at his Abuja residence and also met with Alhaji Buba Galadima, head of the movement’s Advisory Council, who cautioned against any proposal to merge the organisation into the NDC .
