Former Deputy Campaign Manager of the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign, Comrade Isaac Balami, on Friday led a delegation of former Obidient leaders and professionals to a meeting with President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, in Abuja.
At the meeting, the group declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections and pledged to mobilise support for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Balami joined the APC after the 2023 general elections, saying he left the Labour Party because of what he described as a lack of purposeful leadership.
Balami presents former Obidient structure
The former Trade Union Congress (TUC) spokesman formally introduced professionals and conveners of several support groups that worked for Peter Obi’s presidential campaign.
The delegation included Obidient Movement leaders from the Middle Belt and North-Central. It also comprised social media influencers, representatives of about 100 support groups, journalists, pastors, imams and Igbo Obidient leaders from the North and South-East.
Speaking at the meeting, Balami claimed many members of the Obidient Movement suffered injustice under the Obi/Datti Campaign Council.
He added that the group was now “obidiently BATIFIED.”
“It is exactly three years since I left the Labour Party with my political structure. Throughout that period, we have remained patient. Now, we believe it is time to work earnestly for the APC and support the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.”
Balami said the delegation had decided to formally present its political structure to Seyi Tinubu.
He also claimed the structure contributed more than six million votes to Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election.
“These are the people who delivered more than six million votes to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election. Today, they have resolved to double that figure and work towards delivering 12 million votes to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
According to Balami, those present represented active political groups from different parts of Nigeria.
He said many of them worked for Peter Obi’s campaign before deciding to align with the APC.
Group alleges neglect
Balami said politics is driven by interests. He argued that many former Obidient supporters believed their contributions were neither recognised nor protected.
Several leaders of the support groups also alleged they suffered neglect and unfair treatment within the movement.
They said they would return to their communities with a renewed message of hope. They also pledged to mobilise support for the APC ahead of the 2027 election.
Some speakers recalled spending their personal resources, leaving their families and risking their health during the 2023 campaign. However, they claimed they received neither recognition nor appreciation for those sacrifices.
Seyi Tinubu welcomes delegation
Welcoming the delegation, Seyi Tinubu thanked the former Obidient supporters for joining the APC and the Renewed Hope Movement.
“We welcome you and appreciate your support, as well as your recognition of what Asiwaju has done for the country.”
He assured the visitors that the movement would accommodate everyone fairly and urged them to remain patient.
“Our movement is inclusive, and everyone will be treated fairly. You have joined us because you believe in building a better Nigeria. While it is unfortunate that you were not treated fairly where you came from, that experience has brought us together today.”
Seyi Tinubu also commended Balami for his commitment and appealed to members of the group to remain steadfast.
He further highlighted what he described as major achievements of the Tinubu administration. These included infrastructure development, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), economic reforms, fuel subsidy removal, the new national minimum wage and other government initiatives.
Read also: City Boy Movement committed to national development — Seyi Tinubu
