Speaking on Sunday Omoyele Sowore questioned Peter Obi’s credibility as a true opposition figure. He argued that Obi has not taken any firm stance against government policies and has failed to mobilize his supporters in meaningful political resistance.
“Calling Peter Obi an opposition leader is misleading. He didn’t contest the fuel price hike, nor has he rallied his supporters to demand the electoral mandate he claims was stolen,” Sowore said.
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He dismissed the notion that Obi is the most prominent opposition voice ahead of the 2027 elections, reiterating his past skepticism about Obi’s political strength and intentions.
“My views in 2022 and 2023 still stand. The image of Obi as a challenger to the political status quo was always exaggerated. I also said then that the Labour Party was only a temporary platform, like an Airbnb. Once they’re done with Obi, they’ll hand it over to someone else,” Sowore stated.
He further claimed Obi’s popularity in 2023 was largely driven by religious divisions sparked by the APC’s decision to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“There was a reaction among Christians, who felt the need to push back. Obi, being the most prominent Christian candidate at the time, became the default choice,” Sowore said.
He argued that real opposition should involve organizing protests, creating momentum on the streets, and resisting government actions — all of which, according to him, Obi has avoided.
“If you truly represent the opposition, act like it. Six million people voted for you. If you can’t get all of them out protesting, at least get 60,000 in Abuja. But instead, your camp discourages protests — because the goal isn’t real change, just replacing one power bloc with another,” he said.
Sowore also criticized Labour Party legislators, accusing them of gravitating toward the ruling APC, showing what he described as a lack of genuine commitment to change.
“Look at their behavior in the National Assembly — they’re not returning to their former parties, they’re moving toward the APC. That tells you everything,” he added.
In response, Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, dismissed Sowore’s claims in a phone interview with Channels Television. He argued that Obi’s ongoing influence in national politics proves his relevance.
“If Peter Obi is supposedly irrelevant, why does everyone keep talking about him? Today, no political conversation gets attention unless Obi’s name is mentioned — even his smallest actions become newsworthy,” Tanko said.
He also criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for targeting Obi during a recent tribute to the late Chief Edwin Clark, saying such remarks highlight the level of attention Obi commands.
“Instead of focusing on building their own political platforms, they’re fixated on Obi. We remain fully behind him and his mission to hold the system accountable,” Tanko said.
