Ex-Obidients Members Explain Switch to Tinubu Over Obi

{ "articleTitle": "Former Obidients Members Announce Switch to Tinubu for 2027", "articleDescription": "A group of former members of Peter Obi’s 2023 campaign council, now calling themselves the Batified Obidients, announced their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 election during a press conference in Abuja.", "articleBody": "

Former Campaign Staff Adopt APC Platform

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A group of former members of the 2023 Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi announced their decision to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. The group, which has adopted the name \"Batified Obidients,\" also declared that it would adopt the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its political platform for the upcoming general election.

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The announcement was made during a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday. The statement was prepared by Adesina Fagbenro-Byron, who serves as the National Coordinator of the Batified Obidients and previously held the position of Director of Operations in Obi’s 2023 campaign council.

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Fabian Ozoigbo, the Deputy National Coordinator of the Batified Movement and former Head of Logistics for the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, read the statement on behalf of the group. The press conference was attended by Razak Oladosu, a former security and logistics official in Lagos during the 2023 Labour Party campaign; Dr. Ronke Ehinderoro, the LP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Kwara State; Eniola Ojajuni, a youth leader of Afenifere; and representatives from Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.

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Criticism of Obi’s Leadership and Campaign Management

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In their statement, the group cited concerns regarding Peter Obi’s leadership capacity. They argued that the demands of leading a complex country may not be what Obi was prepared for, stating that he was \"out of his depth without fully realising it.\" The group further alleged that Obi’s campaign management exhibited weaknesses in handling talent, diversity, and internal conflicts.

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According to the statement, these management issues resulted in competent volunteers being left unrecognised or unprotected within the campaign structure. The former staff members indicated that these factors contributed to their decision to leave the Labour Party fold.

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Commitment to APC Campaign Activities

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The Batified Obidients promised to actively support President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election efforts. Their commitments include organising campaigns, attending rallies, registering supporters, and voting for Tinubu and the APC.

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The group specified that they would pay particular attention to states where opposition candidates performed strongly in the 2023 election. This strategic focus indicates an intent to target areas that previously resisted the ruling party’s influence.

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Defense of Economic Reforms

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The group declared that they are former Labour Party and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supporters who are shifting their support to Tinubu to ensure continuity in economic reforms and sustainable national development. They acknowledged that Tinubu’s reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidies, have caused rising costs of living and pressure on households.

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However, the group argued that these measures are