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The Obidient Movement has pushed back against a directive from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) asking Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, to abandon his party membership and fully embrace the coalition platform.
The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had revealed after a caucus meeting that members of the opposition coalition were expected to resign from their individual parties and join the ADC. However, he admitted no deadline had been set for compliance.
Reacting in Abuja on Friday, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Tanko Yunusa, described the ADC’s position as ill-timed and unhelpful to the coalition’s unity.
According to him, Obi has never acted out of desperation for power, but has always pursued broad consultations before taking political decisions.
“Peter Obi is not a man chasing titles; he is a leader who listens first and acts only after proper consultation,” Yunusa told journalists.
“The attempt to railroad him into a single party structure without due process contradicts the very principles on which this coalition was formed.”
The movement also questioned why the coalition was altering resolutions that had already been made public after the Anambra governorship election, where it was agreed that the ADC would serve as the adopted coalition platform up to the 2027 elections.
“Our concern is not about membership cards or partisan branding,” Yunusa explained.
“It is about ensuring that the coalition remains true to its original commitments. If those agreements are suddenly reversed, how can we expect Nigerians to trust us?”
Central to the Obidient Movement’s position is the zoning of key positions, especially the presidential ticket.
With the presidency currently held in the South, the group argued that fairness and balance must shape the coalition’s choices ahead of 2027.
“Equity is the key to victory,” Yunusa stressed. “Zoning both the presidential ticket and other principal offices fairly across regions will not only strengthen unity but also enable us to mobilise nationwide.”
The Obidient Movement reaffirmed its loyalty to the opposition alliance but warned that shifting ground rules could weaken public confidence and fracture the coalition before the next general elections.