By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — Ahead of the 2027 presidential and general elections, the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement has rejected any proposal to merge or absorb the organisation into another political body, insisting that it will remain an independent support group.
The movement, a political platform established to mobilise support for the joint ticket of Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also reaffirmed John Ughulu as its founder and Director-General, rejecting proposals for his replacement.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued after the National Leadership Summit of the OK Movement held in Abuja.
The communiqué was signed on behalf of the geopolitical zonal coordinators and the 37 state coordinators by the Convener, Barr. Oladipo Johnson; Deputy Director-General (North), Prince Suleiman Abubakar; Deputy Director-General (South), Mrs Oluwatoyin Lanihun; and National Secretary, Saadatu Mohammed Sani.
The summit was attended by national leaders, zonal and state coordinators, as well as local government and ward-level mobilisers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The movement said it was established to mobilise Nigerians behind the vision of a better Nigeria and had built its structure from the grassroots.
On the leadership of the organisation, the summit affirmed Ughulu as founder and Director-General, saying his leadership had been instrumental to building the movement’s grassroots structure.
“Our reasoning is practical rather than sentimental. 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 said.
It added that the loyalty of its members was based on the leadership and relationships built by Ughulu rather than merely on his official title.
“Social media handles can be reassigned; the confidence of thousands of grassroots mobilisers cannot,” it said.
On the issue of merger, the movement resolved that it “shall remain an independent organisation and shall not be merged into or absorbed by any external political body.”
It said any consolidation imposed from outside could disrupt ongoing programmes, blur its identity and undermine the momentum built over time.
The movement, however, stressed that its independence did not mean isolation, saying it remained willing to coordinate with allied groups in pursuit of shared political objectives.
On reconciliation, the summit invited Ms Jacky Wayas to return to the movement as Director for Strategic Implementation and Planning, working under the leadership of the Director-General.
The movement described Wayas’ contributions as valuable and said it would welcome her return.
It also announced the appointment of Prince Suleiman Abubakar as Deputy Director-General (North), following the resignation of Amb. Muhammad Auwal Musa.
The movement thanked Auwal Musa for his service and welcomed Abubakar to the position.
On the possible removal of the Director-General or loss of the movement’s independence, the leadership warned that such moves could affect its grassroots structure.
It said state, local government and ward leaders had indicated that they would not continue to operate under an arrangement that removed Ughulu or compromised the organisation’s independence.
“We do not say this to apply pressure. We say it because Nigerians deserve an accurate picture of what would, and would not, remain available on the ground,” the communiqué said.
At the conclusion of the summit, the national leadership visited former Kano State Governor and 2027 presidential hopeful, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at his residence to brief him on the outcome of the deliberations.
The leaders also visited Alhaji Buba Galadima, head of the movement’s Advisory Council, who, according to the communiqué, reaffirmed the importance of unity within the organisation.
Galadima was said to have encouraged the movement to remain an independent support group and cautioned against any proposal to merge it into the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The movement said it remained committed to the vision of a better Nigeria and urged that the collective position of its grassroots members be respected.
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