Fresh cracks have emerged within the Obidient Movement after a faction of the group announced the expulsion of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Yunusa Tanko, and other leaders linked to the movement’s post-2023 structure.
The group also declared that it had officially dropped the “Obidient” identity associated with Obi and rebranded itself as the “#OBEDIENT Movement” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the faction’s International Coordinator, Dr Barry Avotu Johnson, accused the former leadership of turning the movement into a tool for personal and political interests.
According to him, the original vision of the movement had been abandoned after the 2023 elections, making a complete restructuring necessary.
“Today, we have come to inform the world that the original founders and custodians of the true Obedient Movement Worldwide have resolved to reclaim the movement and return it to the people,” Johnson said.
He announced the immediate dissolution of the leadership structure that emerged after the 2023 election cycle, insisting that those who assumed leadership positions without the approval of the founding members were no longer recognised.
Johnson said the movement was entering what he described as “a new era of rebranding, restructuring, reconciliation and renewed vision” ahead of 2027.
He also clarified that the group had not endorsed any presidential candidate for the next election and no longer had ties with the Labour Party.
The faction named Mallam Nasir Baba as secretary of the movement, adding that more appointments would be announced after ongoing consultations.
Johnson urged members across the country and in the diaspora to remain calm and united despite the internal shake-up.
He traced the roots of the movement to the civic energy that followed the #EndSARS protests, saying it was initially created as a broader youth-driven political platform before eventually aligning with Peter Obi during the 2023 elections.
According to him, the movement first attempted to operate through the Nigeria Youth Democratic Party before later collaborating with the National Rescue Movement and eventually supporting Obi under the Labour Party platform.
“At that time, the movement adopted Mr Peter Obi as its preferred presidential candidate, and the identity evolved into the popular campaign expression known as ‘Obidient,’” he explained.
The group also used the occasion to call on the Federal Government to protect democratic freedoms ahead of the 2027 elections, urging authorities to review cases involving detained #EndSARS protesters and other activists.
It further appealed to opposition leaders across the country to prioritise unity over individual ambition.
Repeated efforts to get reactions from Peter Obi and Yunusa Tanko were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to them were not answered at the time of filing the report.
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