The Obidient Movement is ready to leave the Labour Party if the party fails to embrace the movement’s commitment to good governance and accountability, says Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement.
Tanko, speaking in an interview with Arise News, explained that the movement is growing rapidly and includes a diverse base of supporters, from academics to traders, and even members of other political parties.
“The Obidient Movement is bigger than the Labour Party,” Tanko asserted. “We have supporters everywhere – in universities, markets, and even some members of other political groups.”
He warned that if the Labour Party cannot commit to the principles of good governance, the movement will not hesitate to find another political platform.
“When it becomes inevitable that the Labour Party is not ready to assimilate the idea of good governance, we will have to look for another opportunity,” he stated.
Tanko’s comments come after the movement’s performance in the 2023 general elections, which exposed certain weaknesses within the Labour Party. Despite strong momentum behind its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party lacked a solid grassroots foundation in many areas.
Reflecting on these shortcomings, Tanko admitted, “It’s clear to us that there are challenges within the Labour Party.”
He acknowledged that during the 2023 elections, the Labour Party failed to cover all polling units, a factor that hindered its electoral success.
“We were accused, rightly so, that we do not have structures in all of the polling units,” Tanko explained, noting that around 1,760 polling units were left uncovered by the party.
In response, he said the Obidient Movement is now committed to building a stronger base across the country. This will involve creating a “solid foundation” at every polling unit to prepare for future elections.
“We are getting prepared and we are ready to face the challenges,” he declared, confident in the movement’s ability to strengthen its political reach.
One of the most significant aspects of the Obidient Movement’s growth, according to Tanko, is its expanding support beyond the southern regions, where Peter Obi initially had a strong following.
Tanko highlighted the movement’s growth in northern Nigeria, emphasizing that support is coming from unexpected quarters, including areas with religious sensitivities.
“Where you thought we don’t have them, we are now having them,” he said, pointing to the influence of young people in pushing for change across the country.
In addressing Nigerians’ disappointment with some Labour Party lawmakers elected with Obi’s backing, Tanko emphasized the need for a clear organizational structure within the movement.
“What we have in position now is that the national coordinator, we are going to have zonal coordinators, state coordinators, local government coordinators, and unit commanders,” Tanko outlined.
He added that this structure will provide a “direction with a concept” that will help the movement remain organized and accountable.
This new structure, he said, will prevent the issues Nigerians have raised from resurfacing in future elections.
“If there is no direction, we can’t hold anybody responsible,” Tanko said, stressing the importance of clear roles and responsibilities within the movement.
To strengthen its operations, the Obidient Movement is also planning to introduce a formal registration system for its members across Nigeria. This, Tanko explained, will make it easy to identify members in their communities and ensure stronger cohesion.
“The data will be so coordinated… you can easily identify an Obidient where he resides at the point of his vote,” he noted.
When asked about the possibility of alliances with other political figures, Tanko said the movement is open to discussions but remains focused on building its own independent base of support.
“That is the reason we are independently building the Obidient Movement – to show our strength,” he said, underscoring the importance of maintaining an autonomous identity within Nigeria’s political landscape.
