Peter Obi did not create Obidient movement, claims founding member

July 12, 2025

By Ayinde Adeleke

A self-proclaimed founding member of the Obidient Movement, Kennedy Iyere,
has revealed in an interview on ARISE NEWS that Peter Obi didn’t create the movement.

According to Iyere, the movement was formed and driven by ordinary Nigerians who later adopted Obi as its symbol.

“There’s something I want to correct,” Iyere said.

“Peter Obi didn’t form the Obidient Movement. We formed, drove, funded, galvanised, and bequeathed it to him. We promoted and projected it into the limelight. So he is the symbol.

“But the architect that actually drew up the whole of that plan, we were the ones. Nigerians who were not comfortable with the trend of things, who dared to challenge the status quo.”

Iyere emphasized that the movement predated Obi’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party.

“Obi was still in the PDP when we started calling out for him to come and take his place,” he said, noting that grassroots groups like POSN and Take Back Naija were already mobilizing for change.

The Obidient Movement’s power, Iyere stressed, is far bigger than any single individual.

“It has translated itself from a democratic platform to a fanatical movement. Nigeria has a lot of good people who can come out. It must not be Obi,” he added.

Iyere also revealed that he won’t support Obi in future elections.

“We gave Obi all the support he needed from us in 2023. For me, I’m not supporting him. I have my reasons. It’s a democracy.”

Iyere questioned the authenticity of a newly formed coalition claiming to represent the Obidient Movement, describing it as inauthentic and not reflective of the original grassroots energy.