The Obidient Movement, the political movement which galvanised support for the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has reacted to the directive of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) asking members of political parties in the coalition to resign from their respective parties before being formally recognised.
On Thursday, ADC’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has said that the coalition had given a final order for members to quit their former parties.
He said: ‘Though a final order has been given to all members to resign their membership of other political parties, the caucus was silent on the timeline.
‘The coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA (Advanced Democratic Alliance); that means they are not interested in the registration or otherwise of the association.
‘All the presidential aspirants have agreed to support whoever wins the primary election’.
The coalition members had earlier attempted to register ADA until they struck an arrangement with the ADC, which had been in existence since 2005.
Responding in a statement on Friday, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko said that Obi had already aligned with the coalition’s adoption of the ADC, noting that the alignment extends to the 8 November governorship poll in Anambra State and the 2027 general election.
The statement read: ‘Our attention has been drawn to the recent statement released by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) concerning the resolutions of the coalition and our role within it.
‘We wish to restate our position clearly. While we remain fully committed to the vision of the coalition and acknowledge the adoption of the ADC as the coalition platform, it is on record that His Excellency Peter Obi aligned with the coalition’s position after the Anambra governorship election and that this alignment extended to the 2027 general elections.
‘This adoption and pronouncement were made publicly by the party, and we are therefore concerned as to why the resolution is now being altered midway into the agreement.
‘H.E. Peter Obi, as a leader with a broad constituency, has always taken time to consult widely before making major political decisions; he did so before joining the coalition, and he must also do so before responding to any ultimatum’.
Tanko also expressed concern about how the ADC intends to zone its presidential ticket, stressing that equity and fairness must guide the process since the presidency is currently held by the south.
He said: ‘As the Obidient Movement, being part of the main consulting bloc, we are particularly concerned about how the party intends to zone its presidential ticket.
‘Considering that the presidency is currently held by the south, issues of equity and fairness must guide such decisions if the party truly aims to secure victory in the 2027 elections.
‘We are equally interested in how the party zones its principal offices within the coalition, as this will ensure justice, fairness and inclusivity — factors that will enable us to mobilise effectively across the country’.
Tanko said that Obi is not desperate to become president, noting that his ultimate goal is to build a Nigeria that works by tackling poverty, improving the economy, and reforming healthcare, education, and security.
‘These were the reasons he joined the coalition in the first place; they are aimed at good governance, which are the core values of the Obidient Movement’.
Obi, who joined the ADC-led coalition in early July, has maintained that he remains a member of the Labour Party.
On 11 July, Obi said that the alliance with the ADC was part of a broader effort to build a stronger political alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.
Nineteen days later, the ADC spokesperson said Obi has been part of the opposition coalition since its inception.
Abdullahi also said the former Anambra State governor sought permission to conclude the electoral process he began with the Labour Party.
According to him, leaders of the coalition agreed that Obi should be allowed to complete his election activities in his former party before crossing over to the ADC.
