Obidient movement not bigger than LP, chieftain replies Tanko

The National Vice-Chairman of the Labour Party, North-Central, Ibrahim Idoko has slammed the National Coordinator of the ‘Obidient Movement’, Yunusa Tanko, for claiming that the movement is bigger than the Labour Party and, therefore, brought it into the limelight.

In a recent interview with Arise News, Tanko, while asserting that the movement is larger than the party, also noted its independence and the possibility of moving to another political platform to uphold its values of good governance and accountability in the forthcoming 2027 elections, should it become necessary for the Labour Party to embrace its ideas.

In a press statement released to journalists on Wednesday, Idoko, dismissed Tanko’s comments, describing him as a political opportunist trying to please his paymasters.

He noted that the LP had been winning elections and making significant progress without the Obidient Movement for many years, adding that Tanko’s assertion should be disregarded by all party members and supporters across the country.

The statement read: “To say the least, this is laughable, coming from a one-time national chairman of a deregistered political party. Tanko and his allies need a brief history lesson on the Labour Party and its successes before the rise of the Obidient Movement.

“It is obvious that Tanko and his co-travellers are either living in denial or are grossly misinformed; either way, they are just being mischievous.

“The Labour Party has been winning elections across Nigeria long before now. For the record, His Excellency, Alex Otti, the current Governor of Abia State, is not the first governor elected on the platform of the Labour Party.

“His Excellency, Olusegun Mimiko, a former Governor of Ondo State, was a two-term governor. The party has also had National Assembly and House of Assembly members in various states.

“It should be noted that well-recognised politicians such as Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of Delta State, Senator Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, and Hon. Samuel Godday of Benue State, among others, were elected under the Labour Party’s platform.

“Tanko is simply being mischievous and seeking relevance from his paymasters. If Tanko and his allies wish to pursue an alternative path to the LP in 2027, so be it. We bear no grudges, but we are confident that under the leadership of Barr. Julius Abure and the current National Working Committee, the Labour Party will only grow stronger, and in 2027, LP will emerge victorious in the elections.”

Idoko, who is also the current LP chairman for Benue State, further reiterated the North-Central LP chairmen’s commitment to providing maximum support to Abure to help him elevate the party to greater heights.