The Labour Party recently announced the renaming of the ‘Directorate of OBIDIENT Affairs’ to the ‘Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration’ through an official statement posted on their website. This decision, disclosed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, was made in response to controversies surrounding the former name. The inaugural ceremony for the revamped directorate is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the party’s National Secretariat in Utako, Abuja, commencing at 10 am.
In May, under the leadership of Julius Abure, the LP’s National Working Committee established a specialized directorate tasked with overseeing the activities and interests of the Obidient Movement within the party. Abure voiced concerns about potential infiltration by the ruling elite and suspected saboteurs, which could compromise the party’s objectives and progress.
To ensure autonomy, Abure emphasized that the directorate would operate independently, with decision-making powers solely vested in Obidient Movement members, devoid of any external influence or interference from the party’s leadership.
However, reports emerged suggesting that the leadership of the Obidient Movement disowned the decision to establish a directorate. Originating from Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign within the Labour Party, the Obidient Movement, also known as the ‘Obidients,’ transcends partisan affiliations. Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, highlighted the movement’s nonpartisan nature, emphasizing its commitment to governmental accountability and its role as a beacon of hope for a better Nigeria.
