Former members of the 2023 Presidential Campaign Council of Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, have launched a new political group, Batified Obidients, declaring their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The group announced its emergence on Tuesday, describing itself as a national coordination platform of former Obi campaign council members committed to working for the re-election of President Tinubu under the Renewed Hope agenda.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Adesina Fagbenro-Byron, the group said its members served in Obi's presidential campaign with dedication but had, after what it described as months of reflection, concluded that the former Anambra State governor lacked the leadership qualities required to govern Nigeria.
According to the statement, the decision to back Tinubu was not driven by personal grievances but by what it called a careful assessment of governance, competence and national leadership.
The group claimed that while working within the Obi campaign, it observed weak diversity management, inadequate appreciation of talent and limited capacity in handling internal conflicts.
It further alleged that many professionals who devoted their time and expertise to the campaign were neither adequately recognised nor effectively utilised, saying the experience exposed a leadership style that failed to promote institutional loyalty, team cohesion and long-term capacity building.
The former campaign council members argued that Nigeria's complexity requires a leader with proven executive experience, coalition-building ability, legislative understanding and crisis management skills.
The group announced its emergence at a meeting held in Wuse 2, Abuja, attended by six zonal coordinators representing the country's geopolitical zones, as well as representatives from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The statement was also signed by the group's regional coordinators:
- Bala Abubakar, North-West
- Ekana Simeon Lamorde, North-East
- Daniel Gambo, North-Central
- Banwo Mayowa, South-West
- Izunna Desmond, South-South
- Odira Alexander, South-East
The group said it would draw on the professional experience of its members to mobilise former Obi supporters, undecided voters and other Nigerians, and would particularly focus on states where Obi secured victories in 2023, to increase Tinubu's 2023 vote tally of 8,794,726.
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