The OK Movement, a political platform established to mobilise support for the joint presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has firmly rejected any merger with an outside political organisation ahead of the 2027 general elections. The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after a national leadership summit held in Abuja, attended by coordinators from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Summit Resolutions and Independence Stance
The communiqué, jointly signed by Convener Ladipo Johnson and National Secretary Sadaatu Sani, declared that the OK Movement shall remain an independent organisation and shall not be merged into or absorbed by any external political body. Johnson, who is also the NDC's Lagos Central senatorial candidate, stated that any externally imposed consolidation risked disrupting ongoing programmes and eroding the movement's identity and grassroots momentum.
"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. Independence does not mean isolation: we remain ready to coordinate closely with allied groups in pursuit of shared goals," the communiqué read. The summit brought together national leaders, state coordinators, and ward-level mobilisers from across Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Leadership Loyalty and Ughulu's Position
The group also addressed a reported plot to remove its founder and Director-General, John Ughulu. Members warned that removing him could trigger the collapse of the entire grassroots network, which they said was built ward by ward on his personal credibility. Johnson emphasised that loyalty is not to a title but to the man who recruited, trained, and stood with the volunteers.
"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 said.
Appointments and Reconciliation Efforts
The summit also extended an olive branch to Ms. Jacky Wayas, inviting her to return as Director for Strategic Implementation and Planning. Prince Suleiman Abubakar was appointed Deputy Director-General (North), filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Amb. Muhammad Auwal Musa, as reported by Punch. After the summit, the movement's leadership visited Kwankwaso at his Abuja residence to brief him on the outcomes, and also met with Alhaji Buba Galadima, head of the movement's Advisory Council, who urged unity and cautioned against merging the organisation into the NDC party structure.
The summit took place roughly one month after reports emerged of a leadership tussle within the movement, involving competing claims to top positions and public accusations between rival factions, as reported by Vanguard. The resolutions come as opposition groups across Nigeria continue to explore alliances and coalitions in preparation for the 2027 elections, with the ruling All Progressives Congress remaining the main target of their combined efforts.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the G100 announced it will host the First Summit of Key Stakeholders of Nigeria's Opposition Political Parties on Monday, August 31, at the Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja. The summit will bring together leadership of six principal opposition parties to begin formal negotiations on working together ahead of the 2027 general election, under the theme "A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination," with delegations from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Movement (APM), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) expected to attend from 10:00 a.m.
