The Tinubu Must Stay Movement has appointed Marcel Ngogbehei, a former organiser of the Obidient Movement and chairman of the Coalition for Peter Obi, as Director-General of its alliance with the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, DMI, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement announced the appointment in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 14, citing Mr Ngogbehei’s experience in public-sector technology, grassroots political mobilisation, community development and organisational leadership in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The appointment marks a new phase in Mr Ngogbehei’s political engagement following his involvement in the mobilisation network that supported Peter Obi’s presidential bid in 2023.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, chairman of the movement’s Board of Trustees and convener, said Mr Ngogbehei’s professional competence and longstanding relationship with him informed the decision.
“I have known Marcel for over 25 years. We have worked together, faced difficult challenges together and delivered results together. I know his character, I know his ability, and I trust him to deliver,” Mr Abdullahi said.
Mr Abdullahi, who is also the director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and a deputy director of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, said he had worked with Mr Ngogbehei at Galaxy Backbone Plc and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He said the two contributed to technology initiatives, including the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), the Government Data Centre, the CBN cashless policy and the establishment of the bank’s enterprise architecture function.
According to him, the enterprise architecture initiative helped the CBN achieve savings of more than $1 million.
“These were not just technology projects. They were about making government systems work better, reducing waste, improving efficiency and building institutions that serve Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Abdullahi described the new director-general as a dependable professional who understands how public institutions operate and how ideas can be translated into practical results.
“Marcel is not someone who merely talks about problems. He understands how institutions work, how to bring people together and how to turn ideas into practical solutions,” he said.
He added that Mr Ngogbehei had demonstrated similar organisational abilities during his involvement in the Obidient Movement and would now bring his experience to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Mr Ngogbehei holds a degree in Computer and Electronics Engineering from Lagos State University and attended the Sloan programme at London Business School.
His professional background includes senior technology responsibilities at Galaxy Backbone Plc and the CBN, as well as projects involving the UK Civil Service.
He also undertook professional development through Harvard Business School’s HBX programme and received a scholarship from the Gallifrey Foundation in recognition of his work in social enterprise and human development.
Beyond his professional career, Mr Ngogbehei founded GiveBack2Humanity, an initiative focused on youth mentorship, volunteerism and community development.
He also established the Marcel Ngogbehei Centre for Cancer Education and Care, which promotes cancer awareness, prevention, early detection and support for affected communities.
In January 2026, he announced a community scholarship programme aimed at promoting academic excellence and expanding educational opportunities for young people.
In the United Kingdom, he served as Diversity, Inclusion and Equality Representative for South Wales at the UK Civil Service Sports Council and as a South Wales representative for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Politically, Mr Ngogbehei played an organisational role in the mobilisation surrounding Mr Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign.
He served as director of strategy of the Peter Obi Support Network before becoming chairman of the Coalition for Peter Obi, where he participated in grassroots mobilisation, voter-registration advocacy and the organisation of the 2022 Labour Party/CPO Leadership Summit in Abuja.
He subsequently became director-general of the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, focusing on grassroots coordination, citizen participation and organisational development.
In September 2026, the DMI convened a national strategy meeting to discuss its future direction and possible partnerships. Mr Ngogbehei presided over the meeting, which preceded the organisation’s formal alliance with the Tinubu Must Stay Movement.
The movement said the alliance would focus on organisational coordination, grassroots engagement and civic-accountability activities as the country approaches the 2027 elections.
Movement challenges opposition parties
Alongside the appointment, the Tinubu Must Stay Movement questioned the readiness of opposition parties to govern, demanding more detailed policy proposals on employment, the cost of living, electricity, education and healthcare.
The movement said criticism of the Tinubu administration should be accompanied by practical alternatives that Nigerians could scrutinise and assess.
“Nigerians are tired of promises without clear plans. If you say the government is wrong, tell the people what you will do better. How will you create jobs? How will you reduce the cost of living? How will you improve electricity, schools and hospitals? And where will the money come from?” it said.
However, the movement acknowledged that the president and his administration should also be assessed on their performance and delivery of results.
“President Tinubu must be judged by the complexity of the problem he inherited and by what his government delivers. The opposition must also be judged by the solutions it offers. Nigerians deserve answers from both sides,” the statement said.
The group said its proposed programme would include public discussions on government performance, assessments of alternative policy proposals and engagements with communities across the country.
Mr Abdullahi said Mr Ngogbehei’s appointment came at a time when the alliance was establishing its structures and defining its programmes.
“At this important stage, we need leadership that understands both people and systems. We need someone who can listen to ordinary Nigerians, coordinate our structures and ensure that our activities are guided by clear objectives and measurable results,” he said.
He expressed confidence that Mr Ngogbehei’s experience in public institutions, political mobilisation and community service would help the alliance achieve its objectives.
As director-general, Mr Ngogbehei is expected to oversee the alliance’s organisational coordination, grassroots engagement and civic-accountability initiatives ahead of the 2027 elections.