By Ahmed Akanbi

The Obidient Movement has dismissed reports of factionalisation and internal crisis, saying allegations of division are “manufactured” and aimed at distracting the group ahead of 2027 political realignments.

In a statement issued Thursday by Ibrahim Umar, spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, the movement insisted that what critics call disunity is actually evidence of its evolution as a decentralised, citizen-led coalition.

“We have become aware of ongoing, manufactured media reports suggesting that the Obidient Movement is experiencing internal divisions or fracturing. We unequivocally refute this claim,” Umar said.

He explained that the movement is not a conventional political party with a rigid hierarchy, but a network of civic groups united by the accountability and governance principles championed by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

“The absence of a centralised leadership structure should not be mistaken for disunity. The movement’s decentralised nature remains one of its strongest assets,” he stated.

Umar acknowledged ongoing debates within the Obidient family on political strategy, coalition-building, and the movement’s direction as activities build up toward the 2027 general election.

However, he said there is no disagreement on the movement’s core objectives.

“The movement embodies an idea of governance anchored on accountability principles of our principal, Peter Obi. While various civic groups may employ different strategies, their collective objective is a unified vision for a New Nigeria.

“The central mission remains unaltered along Peter Obi’s principles and approach to governance. There is no division whatsoever regarding our fundamental objectives,” he said.

The spokesman accused “unnamed interests” of orchestrating media narratives to portray the movement as fragmented, and urged supporters at home and in the diaspora to ignore what he called “deliberately orchestrated campaigns of distraction”.

He said the movement remains focused on challenging “transactional politics” and achieving socio-economic transformation in Nigeria.

The Obidient Movement emerged as a major political force during the 2023 presidential election and has continued to influence national discourse, despite recurring claims of internal disagreements.