The Obidient Movement, the grassroots political group that supported Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, has declared its unwavering loyalty to the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, pledging to follow him wherever he chooses to run in the 2027 elections.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, stated that the movement is ready to back Obi, regardless of the political platform he decides to pursue.
Tanko emphasized that Obi is the leader the movement believes can lead Nigeria out of its current economic struggles.
“The Obidient Movement has resolved that anywhere His Excellency Peter Obi goes, we will follow him,” Tanko said.
“This is because he is the person we believe in, and he is the leader of the Obidient Movement.
So, when he says this is the best way to go, we will follow him as long as we continue to believe he will lead us to the destination.
And when we eventually make it to Aso Villa, the work to put the country back in the right direction will begin in earnest. So, we will follow him all the way.”
Obi’s remarkable performance in the 2023 presidential election, where he secured over six million votes, was largely supported by the Obidient Movement.
This strong backing came despite Obi’s third-place finish behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who eventually won the presidency, and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The movement’s declaration of loyalty to Obi comes amid internal crisis within the Labour Party and growing discussions about a potential inter-party coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
In a related development, LP Deputy National Chairman Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi urged Obi to stay with the Labour Party and disregard calls from within the PDP for his return.
This appeal follows statements from figures like Dan Ulasi, a former PDP Chairman in Anambra State, who suggested that Obi’s return to the PDP could strengthen the opposition party’s chances in 2027.
Olorunfemi, however, cautioned that if Obi were to switch parties, it would reflect poorly on his commitment to the LP and its ideology.
He emphasized that Obi’s popularity among millions of voters came from his association with the Labour Party and that any move to another platform would be seen as opportunistic.
“Now that he has contested and seen the LP force, if he decides to go to another political party, it will speak volumes of his intention,” Olorunfemi stated.
“It will tell whether he truly believed in the LP ideology before coming to run or he just used the opportunity of the platform.”
“So, it will now be left for Nigerians to decide whether Obi, who got millions of votes under the Labour Party, can still be voted for under PDP or another party.
The LP deputy chairman further advised Obi to focus on resolving the party’s internal crises rather than seeking other political platforms.
“He (Obi) must use his tongue to count his teeth. If I were him, what I would be doing now is working to restore peace in the Labour Party and rebuild it
“He should find a way to resolve the issues in the party and remain on the platform. He should stay and resolve the crises he and others created in LP,” he said.
He warned that moving between parties could tarnish Obi’s image and credibility, labeling such behavior as characteristic of opportunistic politicians.
“Moving around will portray him as an opportunistic politician not different from these politicians jumping here and there,” he added.
