The Obidient Movement has clarified that it will only support Peter Obi as a presidential candidate, not as a vice-presidential candidate to anyone, ahead of the 2027 general election.
This statement comes after some interpreted comments by the movement’s National Coordinator, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, as suggesting Obi might accept a VP role under Atiku Abubakar.
The movement stressed its loyalty is to Obi’s leadership vision, not any political platform, and will abide by a transparent ADC presidential primary outcome.
Yunusa had earlier said during an interview on Channels Television that the Obidient Movement would remain within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and respect the outcome of the party’s presidential primary, even if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the candidate.
“As democrats, we will go in there and contest equitably well with every contestant based on democratic tenets. We believe that at the end of it all, Mr Peter Obi will come out on top with the large teeming population that he is bringing into the ADC,” Yunusa said during the interview.
However, some interpreted Yunusa’s remarks as signalling a willingness for Obi to accept a vice-presidential role under Atiku, prompting the movement to restate its position.
“Our attention has been drawn to deliberate misrepresentations and malicious propaganda arising from a recent interview granted by Dr Tanko Yunusa,” the Obidient Movement said in its statement titled The Peter Obi Presidency: A Joint Project of All Nigerians. “The ideals, energy, and collective resolve of the Obidient Movement are unequivocally committed to the presidential aspiration of Mr Peter Obi.”
The group emphasised that while it currently operates within the ADC, its loyalty is to Obi’s leadership vision rather than any political platform.
“Let it be stated clearly and without ambiguity: The Obidient Movement is not mobilised to support Mr Peter Obi as a vice-presidential candidate to anyone. Our support is exclusively for his emergence as President of Nigeria,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Obi ally Professor Pat Utomi also warned he’ll withdraw support if Obi accepts a deputy role, stating “Peter Obi will contest for the presidency. The day he becomes somebody’s vice president, I will walk away from his corner”.
