The Obidient Movement has pushed back against comments by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that its support for a Peter Obi presidency remains firm and that claims portraying the movement as divisive misread political reality.

The response followed remarks by ADC spokesman, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who urged supporters of presidential aspirants, particularly those backing Peter Obi, to abandon what he described as an “Obi or nothing” stance and instead focus on strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said the group’s commitment to the emergence of a Peter Obi presidency was “unshakable”. He argued that passion-driven political engagement should not be mistaken for extremism or intolerance.

“Passion in politics is not a crime. In every functioning democracy, reform-driven movements are vocal because they are motivated by conviction rather than patronage,” Tanko said, adding that the movement believes Obi’s leadership offers the clearest path to national renewal, economic recovery and accountable governance.

In the statement, titled Calling Obidients ‘divisive’ is what politicians do when they fear accountability, Tanko said the movement emerged in response to years of poor governance, deepening poverty and institutional decay, rather than from any desire to divide the country. He noted that millions of Nigerians, particularly young people, became politically active because they were disillusioned with recycled leadership and unfulfilled promises.

Tanko said the participation of Obidients in the ADC coalition followed the same logic, stressing that coalitions are meant to accommodate diverse ideas and encourage debate, not silence dissenting voices. He warned that any coalition uncomfortable with scrutiny was ill-prepared to govern a complex society like Nigeria.

He also rejected claims that Obidients could “ruin” the electoral chances of the ADC, arguing that elections are determined by organisation, credibility, alliances and leadership, not by vocal supporters online. “Blaming engaged citizens for political failure is an easy distraction from the harder work of governance,” he said.

Meanwhile, a political analyst and Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr Sam Amadi, urged the ADC leadership to remain neutral and allow Obidients canvass support for Obi. Speaking on Arise Television, Amadi said the party should harness, rather than suppress, the energy of the movement.

According to him, every bloc within the coalition has preferred candidates, and attempts to shield or attack any aspirant could undermine trust. He argued that the “Obi or nothing” rhetoric serves as a mobilisation tool and that the ADC leadership must show maturity by accommodating differing ambitions within the coalition as alignments towards 2027 take shape. (Daily Trust)

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