Arise Television news director Sumner Sambo says Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi cannot provide the leadership the Obidient movement needs. Speaking on Arise Television’s “Prime Time” on Wednesday, Sambo argues that the movement is bigger than Obi and that he should focus on structuring it beyond personal political ambition. He compares the Obidients to the Zikist movement that supported Nnamdi Azikiwe in the 1940s and 1950s, saying the movement should continue regardless of whether Obi becomes president in 2027.
Sambo also attributes the movement’s challenges to wider organizational problems in Nigerian politics, saying the group has strong enthusiasm but lacks proper political organization. He points to the departure of Comrade Isaac Balami, a former deputy campaign manager in the Obi/Datti campaign, and links it to gaps in funding and campaign strategy that were not properly addressed. Sambo further criticizes Obi for not convening a post-election analysis meeting after the 2023 polls, which he says could have helped unite the movement and keep members engaged.
