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Changes Group’s Name
- Safiu Kehinde
A new faction of the Obidient Movement, the support group of the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has emerged with the faction dismissing the leadership of the movement’s national coordinator, Yunusa Tanko.
Coupled with the announcement of the group’s rebranding and change of name to Obedient Movement, the group also announced the sacking of Obi as its national leader.
The group, in a Press Conference held on Thursday declared the expulsion of the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate of the Labour Party while dismissing the leadership Tanko, labelling it an unauthorised leadership structure that emerged after the 2023 elections.
In his address, the International Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Dr Barry Avotu Johnson, held that Obi, Tanko, and other leaders of the Obidient Movement had assumed leadership of the group with consent of the founding members.
“After extensive consultations with the founding members, coordinators, across Nigeria and diaspora and key stakeholders of this movement, we have reached a decisive resolution in the interest of justice, order and organisational discipline.
“This is a breaking development, effective immediately. The Obedient Movement Worldwide under its new structured leadership hereby announced the dissolution of all previously constituted leadership and structures that emerge outside the authority of the founding figures of this movement.
“Furthermore, in line with our commitment to accountability, transparency, operational, and organisational integrity, we hereby declare that all individuals who assumed leadership positions or acted on behalf of the movement without the consent of its original founders are no more reconginsed in any capacity.
“In this regard, the movement formally withdraws recognition and membership status from the following individuals, meaning that they are all expelled and remain expelled from the movement as leaders and members respectively.
“Number one on the list is the former Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Yunusa Tanko.” Barry said.
He alleged that the founding ideas and original vision of the movement were no longer adequately represented by Tanko and other dismissed leaders of the movement after the 2023 election.
“After the 2023 election, we believe that the original vision and founding ideas of this movement were no longer being adequately represented by those who assumed control of the structure.” Barry added.
He however clarified that it has not yet adopted any presidential candidate for 2027 and has ceased to have any dealings with Labour Party.