Ahead of the general elections in 2027, the Obidients Movement has vowed to back Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), no matter what and said it is willing to accompany him to any political platform he chooses to join.
Yunusa Tanko, the movement’s national coordinator, affirmed their allegiance to Obi in an interview with Punch, stressing that they think only he is capable of rescuing Nigeria from its present economic predicaments.
We have decided to follow His Excellency Peter Obi wherever he goes. We have faith in him as the head of the Obidient Movement.
“As long as we still have faith that he will guide us to the correct path, we will follow him when he says this is the best course of action,” Tanko stated.
Tanko reaffirmed that the movement would continue to get support, adding that his government would make every effort to get the nation back on track if Obi did make it to the Aso Villa.
Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign received over six million votes, despite being run under the Labour Party, demonstrating the overwhelming support he has from Nigerians, particularly the Obidient Movement.
Even in the face of internal LP issues and discussions of possible inter-party coalitions to run against President Bola Tinubu in 2027, this devotion to Obi is still strong.
The devotion to Obi coincides with growing conjecture on his possible return to his previous platform, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This conjecture comes after appeals from well-known PDP members, such as Dan Ulasi, the former chairman of the Anambra PDP, who has pushed the party to court Obi again, highlighting how his presence could improve their chances in 2027.
Meanwhile, the LP’s Deputy National Chairman, Ayo Olorunfemi, advised Obi to stay in the Labour Party and not yield to pressure from the PDP.
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He remarked, “Now that Obi has contested and seen the power of the LP, if he chooses another party, it will speak volumes about his intentions. It will reveal whether he genuinely believed in the LP ideology or simply used it as a platform for his ambition.”
Olorunfemi cautioned that Obi’s departure from the LP might be interpreted as an indication of opportunism, rendering him identical to other politicians who routinely move parties for their own benefit.
He advised Obi to focus on resolving the issues within the Labour Party and rebuilding it, saying, “If I were him, I would be working to restore peace in the Labour Party. He ought to remain and deal with the problems he and others have caused within the party.
In response to the growing calls for Obi’s return to the PDP, Olorunfemi expressed his belief that Obi’s potential defection could impact his support base and raise questions about his commitment to the LP’s ideals.
