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Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential torch-bearer in the 2023 presidential election, has said his support movement, popularly known as the Obidient Movement, isn't an appendage of any political party.
Obi's comments come as a subtle dig at a recent move spearheaded by the Labour Party's National Chairman, Julius Abure, to establish the Obedient Directorate within the party as part of his repositioning efforts.
The party also appointed Marcel Ngogbehei as Director, Aju Elumelu as Deputy Director (Diaspora), and Mariam Ismaila as the Deputy Director of the directorate.
However, the move met strong resistance from several Obidients who claimed it was an attempt by Abure to usurp Obi's grassroots-driven force.
Condemning Abure in a recent statement, 39 leaders of the Obidient movement accused the national chairman of attempting to co-opt the movement, which they claimed predates Obi's defection to the Labour Party, by creating an Obidient Directorate.
Obi rejects directorate
In a statement on his X on Wednesday, June 5, 2023, the former Anambra State Governor warned that any individuals claiming to be leaders of the so-called directorate are not members of the broader Obidient movement.
Obi also stressed that the Obidient Movement transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations.
"I like to categorically state that the Obidient Movement is not directorate of any particular political party. Any individual or individuals claiming to be leaders of this non-existent directorate are simply not members of the broader Obidient Movement.
"There may be a youth mobilisation directorate in political parties but the Obidient movement is far beyond a particular political party. The Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations.
It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country. Its membership spans across Africa and the globe, comprising individuals from various backgrounds, including rural communities, and public, private, and corporate entities, united by a shared vision for a New and better Nigeria. Guided by the principles of adaptive and transformative change, progress, discipline, and democratic values, the Obidient Movement advocates for fairness, equity, inclusivity, and justice," his statement partly read
Obi and Abure on a warpath?
Recent developments have suggested that Obi and Abure are no longer on the same political wavelength.
It all started after the former governor failed to outrightly endorse the new Labour Party National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Abure after the controversial party convention that brought them into office.
Speaking at the convention, Abure had offered Obi the 2027 presidential ticket of the party unopposed, but the latter's recent moves suggest that he might be considering his political future away from the Labour Party.
Last month, Obi caused quite a stir after photos of his meetings with three chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sparked rumours of an alleged return to his old stomping ground.
He met with the former Vice President and his PDP opponent in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.