Obidient Movement Accuses Ruling Party of Plot to Sabotage Peter Obi’s 2027 Presidential Bid

Kano, Nigeria – 4 April 2026 The Obidient Movement Worldwide has issued a strongly worded press statement warning of a “sinister scheme” by Nigeria’s ruling party to deny former Labour Party presidential candidate HE Peter Obi a platform in the January 2027 general election.

In a statement released today in Kano by its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, the movement claims the alleged plan has been under way since the 2023 polls, with deliberate attempts to sow chaos within the Labour Party to prevent Mr Obi from establishing a firm political base.

Despite Mr Obi’s efforts to restore peace within the party, the statement alleges that government infiltrators, aided by a “compromised judiciary”, repeatedly blocked reconciliation. It notes that although the Supreme Court ruled in April 2025 on the rightful control of the Labour Party, the ruling party allegedly ignored the decision and used lower courts to undermine its authority.

Faced with what the movement described as persistent internal turmoil designed to force him out, Mr Obi left the Labour Party on 31 December 2025. Just days later, on 7 January 2026, the same lower courts that had previously disregarded the Supreme Court ruling moved swiftly to dismiss the leadership disputes, according to the statement.

Mr Obi subsequently aligned himself with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), injecting new momentum into the party. However, the Obidient Movement claims the ruling party then escalated its efforts by pushing through amendments to the Electoral Act specifically intended to weaken the ADC and derail Mr Obi’s presidential ambitions.

Tensions heightened further following Mr Obi’s visit to former Kano State Governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, on 22 March 2026. The meeting, at which Mr Obi was warmly received by Kwankwasiyya supporters, reportedly intensified the ruling party’s hostility.

The tipping point came during a large ADC rally in Kano on 30 March 2026, at which Senator Kwankwaso formally joined the party. In what the movement describes as a “desperate move”, the government allegedly pressured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinterpret an Appeal Court ruling, resulting in the delisting of the ADC’s leadership and placing Mr Obi and other aspirants at risk of being denied a legitimate platform.

The Peter Obi Media Office, quoted in the statement, condemned the alleged actions as a blatant attempt to undermine democracy, establish a one-party dictatorship and continue the exploitation of Nigeria’s resources through corruption. It accused the ruling party of propping up surrogates across various parties to create “an illusion of democratic choice” in a country of more than 200 million people.

The statement warned that such a move would particularly harm Nigeria’s youth, women and intellectuals, who are seeking a country focused on “production over consumption”, reduced waste and zero tolerance for corruption.

The Obidient Movement called on all stakeholders, including the judiciary, INEC, civil society and the international community, to uphold democratic principles and ensure Mr Obi is given the opportunity to present his vision to the Nigerian electorate.