By Jane Okafor, Abuja
Obidient Movement Worldwide on Friday declared that its 2023 presidential candidate on the platform of Labour Party (LP) is not desperate to be president of Nigeria in 2027.
The movement also said that Obi can’t be hurried into joining the Coalition adopted political party – African Democratic Congress (ADC) – ahead of the 2027 general elections without first consulting extensively with members of the group before taking such a major political decision.
The National Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, who made this known in a statement in an apparent response to the ultimatum given to the ex – Governor of Anambra State by the ADC to join the party,
The Daily Crucible reports that Coalition had asked Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP), Nasir El-Rufai of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Senator Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resign from their respective parties and fully join the ADC.
The directive was given during a recent Caucus meeting of the opposition politicians in Abuja under the aegis of Coalition movement.
The coalition caucus also disclosed that it had concluded on the association with ADA as captured by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi who declared that: “The Coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA. That means, they are not interested in the registration or otherwise of the association.”
However, touching on the ultimatum further, Tanko stated that the Obidient Movement is particularly concerned about how the ADC intends to zone its presidential ticket, given the fact that that the presidency is currently held by the South, stressing that the issues of equity and fairness must guide such decisions if the party truly aims to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
He added that the movement is 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 members to mobilize effectively across the country.
The full text of the statement below:-
RE: ULTIMATUM TO MR. PETER OBI BY THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC)
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 Mr. Peter Obi aligned with the coalition’s position after the Anambra State Governorship Election, extending to the 2027 General Elections. This adoption and pronouncement were made publicly by the party. 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.
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 mobilize effectively across the country.
It must be emphasized that H.E. Peter Obi is not desperate to be President of Nigeria. His ultimate mission is to see Nigeria work — to lift people out of poverty, to improve the economy, education, healthcare, and security. These were the reasons he joined the coalition in the first place targeted towards good governance which are the core values of the Obidient Movement
Dr. Yunusa Tanko
National Coordinator
Obidient Movement Worldwide
