By Muhammad Mamman
The Obidient Movement has raised concerns over what it describes as a coordinated propaganda campaign designed to discredit Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, the movement’s national coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, said the group had documented repeated cases of misinformation and malicious narratives targeted at Obi.
He cited a courtesy visit to elder statesman Afe Babalola on 9 December 2024 as an example, noting that contrary to reports, Obi did not plead for the withdrawal of a defamation case involving activist Dele Farotimi. Tanko clarified that the matter was settled through the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, not through Obi’s personal request.
“Peter Obi does not engage in personal attacks, nor does he condone them. In Farotimi’s case, he only raised concerns about the manner of his arrest and detention, which was well understood by the elder statesman,” Tanko explained.
He further described Obi as a politician defined by service rather than patronage politics, highlighting his investments in education, youth empowerment, healthcare, the almajiri system, and support for the poor and vulnerable.
Addressing the controversial ‘Yes Daddy’ leaked audio, Tanko said Obi deliberately chose not to pursue prolonged litigation, a decision he characterised as “strategic, not an admission of guilt.”
Tanko also rejected claims linking Obi or his associates to a WhatsApp broadcast targeting Lagos, stressing that no credible evidence had ever been produced.
“These individuals recycle old lies because propaganda thrives where truth exposes failure,” he said. “They style themselves with lofty titles, but in reality, they are failed propagandists desperate for relevance. Nigerians deserve better. The Obidient Movement will always stand for truth over propaganda, service over selfishness, and facts over fabrications.”
