Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria — A new wave of internal tension has emerged within the Obidient Movement, a political support group formed during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election to back Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, following the resignation of its Director of Finance, Dr Peter Agada.
Dr Agada announced his decision during a press conference held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, stating that he had stepped down from the role about three days earlier. He attributed his resignation to what he described as weak organisational structure and poor coordination within the group.
Okay News reports that the development signals a possible shift in the coalition that gained national prominence during the 2023 elections, especially among young Nigerians who mobilised around reform-driven campaigns.
The Obidient Movement rose as a grassroots political force during the 2023 election cycle, drawing significant support from youth-led activism, including participants of the End SARS protests against police brutality. Despite its rapid rise, concerns about its long-term organisation and sustainability have persisted since the election ended.
Speaking at the briefing, Agada emphasised that his decision was not driven by personal grievances but by structural concerns. He said, “I resigned my position as the Director of Finance of the Obidient Movement about three days ago and sent a letter to the headquarters that I was no longer going to continue in that role as a person, based on all the points we’ve mentioned here.
“This meeting is being held here today because it is my facility. It is the product of my hard-earned labour, and if I am championing a new move, it has to be in my house. After all, they say charity begins at home.
“I’m sorry to say that the lack of structure (in Obidient Movement) does not fit with my personality, the way I have grown as an architect of repute for the last 30 years. They have not been informing me of meetings and activities for a while now. You can imagine a director of finance in an organisation not knowing where or what is happening.”
At the same event, Agada introduced a new political platform known as The Movement Nigeria, which he said would operate independently of any single political figure. His remarks suggest a broader attempt to reshape political engagement ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections scheduled for 2027.
He declined to confirm whether he would continue supporting Peter Obi, Nigeria’s former presidential candidate under the Labour Party, or align with other major political figures such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria or former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“In essence, we are not supporting one particular person. I said it in my speech earlier. The Movement Nigeria is not built on any personality. It is not for Asiwaju, Obi or Atiku,” he stated.
Addressing questions about funding, Agada rejected claims that the new platform was backed by wealthy individuals, stressing instead that it would rely on collective contributions from members.
He said, “Any movement that is being bankrolled by an individual can be completely shut down and destroyed by other individuals. This movement is currently being funded by some of us seated here today. The funding structure is a democratised one and not by any big man from somewhere.
“So, there is absolutely nobody who is funding Movement Nigeria. As a worker, are you happy with your takeover or welfare? If you are not, then you should be part of this movement because it is not funded by a single individual.”
In response, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, acknowledged the resignation but downplayed its significance. He stated that the organisation is currently undergoing restructuring aimed at improving its internal framework.
“The fact is that we are trying to revamp and restructure the movement. What we want to do is to have a collegiate affair instead of running this kind of directorate thing where somebody will say he is not part of this or that. So, the collegiate is what we have now.
“Again, it is an electioneering year. If political parties and governors can be bought by the moneybags, anything can happen. At least, we can now know who is real and who is not.
“We don’t want to join issues with Agada. As far as we are concerned, we are still together. I have not had any complaint about him leaving or being kicked out.”
Tanko also said he had not received any formal resignation letter at the time of speaking, while noting that political realignments are common as election cycles approach.
“I have not received anything like that. As I said earlier, we are still together. But if he wants to run for the 2027 election, there is no problem. It is an election year, and many people are expected to switch from one platform to another.
“The Obidient Movement is a sacrifice. Some of us have been doing a lot, but we chose to stay together till the end,” he said.
The situation highlights growing internal divisions within the Obidient Movement as Nigeria’s political landscape begins to shift ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising questions about the group’s unity and future direction.
