A faction of the Obidient Movement has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pledging to deliver over 50% of the Southeast votes in the 2027 general elections. The group's leader, Ikenna Azomchine, also known as the Obidient General, claimed he personally funded Peter Obi's movement with his own money but has now switched allegiance due to the collapse of Obi's support structures.
Obidient General Alleges Breakdown of Obi's Support Base
In an exclusive telephone interview with a Legit.ng correspondent on Thursday, June 11, Hon. Azomchine stated that poor coordination has caused Obi's structures and support groups to weaken significantly since the 2023 elections. He said winning the 2027 presidential election under these circumstances would be far-fetched.
Azomchine explained: "In 2023, the Obidient Movement Worldwide led by me was able to coordinate both the sub structures and super structures of the movement. People were very willing to support the movement. Personally, as Obidient General, I sponsored the majority of activities of the Obidient Movement using my personal funds."
He added: "I sponsored activities of the movement in many states of the country - mobilising men and resources for Peter Obi's presidency. In all these, I never demanded anything from our principal, because money has never been my driving force. But after the 2023 general elections, things began to deteriorate. People are no longer keen to support the movement and its structures. Senators, House of Representatives and House of Assembly members who were supported under the Labour Party to win elections turned their backs. Again, our principal, who claims to be a multi-billionaire, also refused to release funds. Thus, the movement and every other structure around it were starved."
Obidient Leader Justifies Support for Tinubu
Hon. Azomchine, who also serves as the Southeast Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, accused Obi of not allowing movement leaders enough freedom to operate, despite allegedly failing to provide funding. He claimed that most movement leaders were imposed and lacked the capacity to coordinate effectively, contributing to the movement's decline.
According to him, efforts to make Peter Obi appreciate, support, and fund the movement did not yield results, forcing him and others to redirect their political capital to where it would yield results. He stated: "I'm not into this movement for monetary gains. We decided to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because he has the structure, resources, and proper coordination to win the 2027 presidential election. As it stands, Peter Obi cannot boast of such."
Azomchine further justified the move by citing the South–North power rotation arrangement: "2023 to 2031 is for the South. Tinubu is already there for the South. We'll support Tinubu to complete his second tenure, then it will go to the North. We hope to see an Igbo man emerge as Vice President then. After the tenure of the North, we hope to see an Igbo man emerge as President of this country. We can only achieve this through coordination, bridge building, and proper alignment with government at the center."
He concluded: "To demonstrate our seriousness, we shall give Mr. President more than 50% of total Southeast votes, and we're not joking about this promise."
Obidient Movement Targets Anambra Lawmakers in 2027
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Obidient Movement in Anambra State urged parties to present credible candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. The group criticized several legislators elected with support from Peter Obi, alleging poor performance and abandonment of their mandate. They are reviewing records to decide who to back or drop in future elections.
