The Obidient Movement has reacted angrily to fresh revelations by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, concerning the strategy allegedly adopted by the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G-5 governors during the 2023 presidential election.
Wike, who was then Governor of Rivers State, disclosed in a recent interview on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout that the G-5 governors deliberately allowed Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to win in some South-South states as part of a strategy to reduce the votes of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to Wike, the G-5 considered the PDP a strong political force in the South-South and viewed Atiku as the major beneficiary if the party retained its dominance in the region.
He specifically cited Edo and Cross River, saying the strategy was to allow Obi to benefit from the votes rather than Atiku.
“Our problem will be Atiku. Therefore, instead of Atiku to take it, let it go to the Labour Party. That was our strategy,” Wike said. ([Punch Newspapers][1])
Wike also stated that Rivers State was deliberately treated differently because of the political implications he associated with an Obi victory there.
The disclosure has generated strong reactions among supporters of Peter Obi and members of the Obidient Movement, with the group accusing Wike of attempting to interfere with the democratic process ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview, the President-General of the Obidient Movement, Mr. Chijoke, reportedly issued a stern warning to Wike, saying the movement would resist any attempt to manipulate the 2027 election.
The group warned that political actors should not assume that Nigerians would remain silent if they believed the electoral process was being compromised.
In a particularly strong statement, the group told Wike to “write his will” if he was contemplating an attempt to rig or manipulate the 2027 presidential election, adding that such an alleged move would meet strong resistance from its members and supporters.
The Obidient Movement further declared that it would not accept what it described as a repeat of the circumstances surrounding the 2023 presidential election.
The group’s position comes against the backdrop of Wike’s latest comments that Peter Obi’s political circumstances have changed since 2023 and his assertion that Obi would struggle to reproduce his performance in states such as Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta in 2027. Wike also advised Obi to prepare for 2031 rather than focus on the 2027 election.
The Obidient Movement, however, has continued to mobilise supporters ahead of 2027. Earlier in 2026, the movement said it was strengthening its structures across wards and local government areas and preparing for the next general election.
The controversy has also revived debate over the role played by the G-5 governors in the 2023 election. Wike’s latest account contrasts with some of his earlier public statements. In March 2023, for instance, he said his position was to support the emergence of a southern president and denied directing Rivers voters to work against Obi.
The 2023 presidential election was won by Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 8,794,726 votes, while Atiku Abubakar polled 6,984,520 and Peter Obi recorded 6,101,533 votes.
As political activities intensify ahead of 2027, the latest exchange between Wike and the Obidient Movement is likely to add to the already heated debate over electoral integrity, political strategy and the role of influential political actors in determining the outcome of Nigeria’s next presidential election.
The Obidient Movement’s warning that “enough is enough” underscores its stated determination to oppose any attempt to manipulate the electoral process, while Wike’s comments have opened a fresh political debate about what actually happened behind the scenes during the 2023 election.
