The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, has dismissed suggestions that Labour Party’s defeat in the recent Anambra governorship election signals a decline in the political influence of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Tanko insisted, “Peter Obi was not on the ballot.”
As reported by ARISE News on Tuesday, he stressed that assessing Obi’s political relevance based on an election he did not contest was misleading.
“First of all, I watched a lot of interviews this morning, and quite a lot of people were trying to peg the election on Peter Obi. Peter Obi was not on that ballot.
Yes, he supported George Moghalu, and he gave his support and went to three areas for campaigns, but it was the contest of George Moghalu, on which the people had to decide,” he said.
Tanko emphasised that the Anambra election was about the Labour Party candidate, not Obi himself.
“All of this election hinges on the Anambrarians to decide who becomes their governor. Seventeen years ago, Peter Obi ran an election against the same Mr Soludo and Dr Chris Ngige.
Put Peter Obi on the ballot today, against such individuals, he will still defeat them,” he said.
He described Obi’s support for the Labour Party candidate, despite internal party differences, as an act of political honour.
“Even though, as his choice of a candidate, he came from the Aburi leadership, and Peter Obi supported the Nenadi leadership of the Labour Party, despite that, he went ahead to give that support to show his honour for his party. That is what is honourable for any candidate,” Tanko explained.
PUNCH Online reported that Tanko’s interview follows comments from the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, which advised Peter Obi to reconsider his 2027 presidential ambition, stating that the outcome of the Anambra governorship election indicated a decline in the Labour Party’s grassroots support and the influence of Obi’s Obidient Movement.
The party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, said, “The result, especially in Obi’s polling unit, showed that LP’s structure in his base was crumbling.
Social media popularity cannot replace consistent political organisation and voter engagement. The Anambra election offers important lessons on structure and performance.”
On Obi’s enduring popularity in Anambra, Tanko attributed the election outcome to low voter turnout rather than rejection.