Former members of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Council have launched a new political group, Batified Obidients, and declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The group announced its formation at a meeting in Wuse 2, Abuja, where six zonal coordinators representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones met alongside representatives from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Adesina Fagbenro-Byron, the organisation described itself as a national platform comprising former members of Obi’s Presidential Campaign Council who have now chosen to support Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Why Former Obi Supporters Back Tinubu
The group said its decision followed months of reflection on its experience during the 2023 presidential campaign and its assessment of the leadership requirements it believes Nigeria needs ahead of 2027.
According to the former campaign members, they actively supported Obi during the 2023 election because they believed in his political message at the time.
However, they said their subsequent experience led them to reconsider their position and move towards Tinubu.
The group alleged that its time within the campaign exposed what it described as shortcomings in internal coordination, talent management and conflict resolution.
It also claimed that some professionals who contributed their expertise and time to the 2023 campaign were not adequately recognised or effectively deployed.
The former campaign members said they believed executive experience, political coalition-building, legislative understanding and crisis management were important considerations in choosing Nigeria’s next president.
Based on those considerations, the group declared its support for Tinubu’s re-election under the APC in 2027.
Batified Obidients Criticise Labour Party
The newly formed group also criticised the Labour Party, saying it was “not structurally or ideologically prepared” to govern Nigeria.
However, Batified Obidients stressed that it should not be confused with the wider Obidient Movement.
The organisation said its membership is specifically made up of people who previously served on Obi’s Presidential Campaign Council but have now decided to support Tinubu.
It therefore said it does not claim to represent all supporters of Obi or everyone associated with the broader Obidient movement.
Group Targets Former Obi Supporters Ahead of 2027
Batified Obidients said it plans to mobilise former Obi supporters, undecided voters and other Nigerians in support of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
The group also said it would defend the policies of the Tinubu administration and explain the government’s reforms to voters.
Another stated objective is to expand Tinubu’s support beyond the votes he secured in the 2023 presidential election.
To coordinate its activities, the organisation announced a nationwide structure comprising a National Coordinator and National Secretariat, with regional coordinators across the six geopolitical zones.
State coordinators are also expected to be appointed across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.
2027 Political Realignment
The emergence of Batified Obidients adds another development to the ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu is seeking another term under the APC, while Peter Obi is preparing to contest the presidential election under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), according to the details provided by the group and current political reporting.
The latest development follows other instances of former Obi campaign officials and supporters publicly shifting allegiance towards Tinubu and the APC. In August 2026, former Obi/Datti campaign officials led by Isaac Balami also declared support for Tinubu and formally presented their political structure to Seyi Tinubu.
For Batified Obidients, the stated objective is now to organise former Obi campaign members and other voters around Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid while promoting the policies of his administration.