The Interim National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has defended the Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi‘s proposal to serve a single term if required by a coalition agreement.
Naijaonpoint reports that Tanko, in an interview on Arise Television, stated that Peter Obi will never deviate from an agreement made in good faith.
He said, “It’s a question of integrity. If we agree that we’re going to have a one-term presidency, and that’s the agreement, he will stick to it. Obi is a man of his word who would never deviate from an agreement once made in good faith.”
Tanko also defended Peter Obi’s recent statement that he would bring stability to Nigeria within two years of assuming office, citing his previous visit to Egypt to study its power model as proof of his commitment to real solutions.
He stated, “For somebody who within his first term in Anambra was able to unite people and clear backlogs in governance, it’s not an overstatement. It’s not rhetoric.
“If he’s able to solve electricity alone in Nigeria, it will change the dynamics of the country totally. The number of small businesses that will rise is unimaginable.”
According to Tanko, Peter Obi’s appeal is expanding across all regions, noting his growing acceptance even in the North.
He remarked, “Even today, some traditional leaders from the Emirate Council came to present him with an award. That’s acceptance. Some of us who are Hausa, Fulani, Muslims, Christians, we’ve all accepted him. Because we are looking for a unifier.”
Speaking further, Tanko debunked reports suggesting an ongoing discussion between Peter Obi and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, regarding a possible joint ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying, “That topic hasn’t even come up. People are speculating, but there’s no such talk now.”
Tanko, who leads the grassroots-driven movement supporting Peter Obi, said their focus remains on building a broad coalition rooted in integrity, inclusiveness, and service to the Nigerian people.
Tanko confirmed that consultations are ongoing with like-minded stakeholders and political parties, but maintained that any alliance must reflect the people’s interest, not elite political arrangements.
He said Peter Obi is committed to forming a coalition not based on ethnicity or religion but on competence and capacity, noting that it’s not going to be business as usual.
He added, “There are already conversations going on to see how we can merge a lot of forces together. It’s not necessarily just Peter Obi and Labour Party. It’s about Nigeria and how we can rescue the country.”