Supporters of Peter Obi in Anambra State, under the banner of the Obidient Movement, have explained their recent endorsement of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for a second term. The group said the decision was based on performance, not party affiliation.
Led by Ikenna Azomchine, who identifies as the “Obidient General Worldwide,” the group declared that their support for Soludo was a principled move aligned with the core values of the Obidient Movement — competence, accountability, and good governance — values they say Soludo has demonstrated in office.
Azomchine dismissed claims that the endorsement represented disloyalty to the Labour Party or to the Obidient Movement, stressing that the movement is not a political party but a citizen-driven initiative.
“The endorsement of Professor Chukwuma Soludo by the Obidient General and the majority of Anambra Obidients is neither fraudulent nor misleading,” Azomchine said in a statement released Wednesday. “It is a conscious, value-driven, and legitimate decision anchored on competence, integrity, and visible performance.”
The endorsement comes ahead of the Anambra governorship election, where the Labour Party’s candidate is Dr. George Moghalu. However, Azomchine made it clear that no official endorsement has been made by the Obidient Movement for Moghalu or any other candidate.
“The Obidient Movement was never created to promote blind party loyalty or personality cults. Our support for Peter Obi was based on merit, not party uniform,” he said.
He also defended the decentralized nature of the movement, pushing back against claims by Dr. Yunusa Tanko — the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement — who dismissed the endorsement. Tanko had insisted that the movement remains tied to the Labour Party’s structure and that the endorsement of Soludo did not represent the collective will of the group.
Azomchine accused Tanko of overstepping, stating:
“Dr. Tanko’s release is not only unauthorized but also a blatant misrepresentation of the philosophy and decentralized structure of the Obidient Movement.”
According to Azomchine, the movement in Anambra reached its decision after what he called “open consultations and performance assessments,” with over 80% of Anambra-based Obidients reportedly backing Soludo.
Highlighting Soludo’s performance, Azomchine cited improvements in road infrastructure, education, healthcare, and general state stability, arguing that disrupting such progress for political alignment would be “an insult to reason and progress.”
He concluded by reaffirming that the movement’s allegiance remains with principles of good governance, not any specific political party.
