Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A dramatic political realignment is unfolding within the support base of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, as a faction claiming to be the “original founders” of the Obidient Movement has announced the expulsion of Obi, his close ally Yunusa Tanko, and all leaders appointed under the post‑2023 leadership structure. The group also declared the dissolution of the movement in its existing form, severed all ties with the Labour Party, and unveiled a rebranded organisation now called the OBEDIENT Movement. The announcement was made on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at a press briefing in Abuja, where the faction’s International Coordinator, Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson, laid out a sweeping restructuring agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision was based on the claim that after the 2023 elections, the original vision and founding ideals of the movement, which emerged from the EndSARS protests in 2022, had been hijacked by individuals allegedly using the platform for “personal advantage and private gains.” Johnson argued that the post‑2023 leadership, led by Obi and Tanko, had taken control without the consent of the founding members. “After extensive consultations with the founding members, coordinators across Nigeria and the diaspora, and key stakeholders of this movement, we have reached a decisive resolution in the interest of justice, order, and organisational discipline,” Johnson stated. He announced that all individuals who assumed leadership positions without the consent of the original founders were no longer recognised in any capacity, and that Obi and Tanko were expelled both as leaders and members.
The faction also rebranded the movement from “Obidient” to “OBEDIENT,” a shift intended to disentangle the group from Obi’s personal brand. Johnson clarified that the new OBEDIENT Movement has not yet adopted any presidential candidate for the 2027 election and has formally ceased all dealings with the Labour Party, the platform on which Obi ran in 2023. “We have not adopted a presidential candidate for 2027 yet. However, we are focused on restructuring the movement and building a sustainable vision for the future,” he said. The group appointed Mallam Nasir Baba as its Secretary, with other leadership positions expected to be filled in the coming weeks. Johnson called on members across the country to remain calm and united, urging them to embrace the rebranding as a necessary step to return the movement to its original purpose.
The development has thrown the Nigerian political space into fresh turmoil. In a swift reaction, Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement (the faction loyal to Obi), dismissed the announcement as false, describing those behind the purported expulsion as “Abure’s boys,” a reference to Julius Abure, a former National Chairman of the Labour Party. Tanko told DAILY POST in a telephone interview that the faction lacks the authority to expel Obi, whom he called “the owner of the Movement.” “How can that even happen? How can they sack the owner of the Movement? Isn’t that funny?” Tanko said. “It’s Abure’s boys circulating that nonsense.” He urged supporters to ignore the reports, which he characterised as a distraction orchestrated by political adversaries.
The controversy has generated a storm of reactions on social media and among political commentators. Some supporters of Obi described the factional move as a comedy orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress to sow confusion ahead of the 2027 elections. Others questioned the timing of the rebranding, noting that it comes at a critical juncture when opposition forces are scrambling to present a united front against President Bola Tinubu’s anticipated re‑election bid. Online users expressed scepticism about the legitimacy of the faction, with many calling the press conference an elaborate skit. However, other political observers have pointed out that the dispute reveals underlying tensions within the Obidient movement over issues of ownership, ideology, and future direction.
The faction’s decision to cut ties with the Labour Party is particularly significant. During the 2023 election cycle, the Obidient movement served as the primary grassroots engine that propelled Obi to a surprising third‑place finish, winning over eight million votes and dominating the political conversation. However, the alliance between the movement and the party was often uneasy, with tensions over leadership control and candidate selection. The new OBEDIENT Movement’s insistence that it will operate independently of any political party for now suggests that the faction is seeking to build a long‑term civic structure that transcends any single candidate or electoral cycle.
Johnson traced the history of the movement back to 2022, explaining that the OBEDIENT Movement was founded before Obi became its public face. He argued that the movement grew out of the energy of the EndSARS protests and evolved organically before being co‑opted by politicians. The rebranding, he insisted, is not an attack on Obi personally but a necessary correction to ensure the movement remains a people‑driven platform rather than a vehicle for individual ambition. “The Obedient Movement Worldwide is not a platform for personal political advancement, nor is it an instrument to be controlled by any individual or group for private gain,” he said. The group also left the door open for dialogue, indicating that it would be willing to engage with Obi if he is “ready to be stable” and cooperate with the new leadership structure.
The expulsion of Obi and Tanko has intensified the already complex opposition landscape. With the former Labour Party candidate and his ally excluded from the rebranded movement, there are growing concerns about a fragmentation of the support base that delivered the most successful third‑party vote in Nigeria’s recent political history. Some analysts suggest that the rebranding could be exploited by the ruling party to delegitimise Obi’s grassroots appeal. Others argue that the new OBEDIENT Movement may attract progressive elements who are disillusioned with the perceived dominance of Obi’s personality within the previous structure. However, the faction has yet to demonstrate the kind of grassroots reach and mobilisation capacity that the original Obidient movement was known for.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has not commented on the development, and the Labour Party has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the new group’s repudiation of its alliance. Obi himself has not made a public statement regarding his expulsion. Several attempts to reach him were reportedly unsuccessful at the time of the press briefing. The coming weeks will determine whether the rebranded OBEDIENT Movement can establish itself as an independent force or whether it will be dismissed as a fringe faction without political relevance. Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Obi has indicated that it will continue to operate under the original Obidient name, setting the stage for a legal and political battle over the ownership of the movement.
The crisis caps a turbulent week for opposition politics in Nigeria. Only days earlier, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso formally defected from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, a move that reshuffled the alliance landscape. The expulsions within the Obidient movement further complicate the ability of opposition forces to coalesce around a single candidate ahead of the 2027 elections. As the political drama unfolds, the question on the lips of many Nigerians is whether the fracturing of the movement that once embodied the hope of millions of young people is a prelude to a broader consolidation or the beginning of a long fragmentation.
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