The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has dismissed claims that Peter Obi was tricked into joining the newly formed opposition coalition with the promise of a presidential ticket.

Naijaonpoint reports that Tanko, reacting to reports circulating, described the allegation as “completely false” and a deliberate attempt to sow discord and divert focus within the movement.

Speaking with Daily Post, Tanko insisted that there was no truth whatsoever in the claims that Obi was misled by coalition leaders. He said Obi’s decision was grounded in his long-held philosophy of collective responsibility in nation-building.

He said, “They are trying to create distractions and disharmony. We are focused and will meet our position. If Peter Obi is going to make any statement as regards the coalition, you will get it from him directly, from me, or from any of his aides.

“There is no iota of truth about him being tricked or not. Those are people who are trying to create a lot of distractions as the case may be.

“Peter Obi has always maintained that the issue of rescuing Nigeria is not in the hands of one person; it has to be collective, especially when it means pulling people out of poverty, addressing health situations, education, and the economic well-being of the Nigerian people.

“These are the things he has always been saying that he is interested in, and that is his position all the time.”

Naijaonpoint had earlier reported that a former Special Adviser to Peter Obi on Public Affairs during the 2023 presidential election, Katchy Ononuju, alleged that Obi was “deceived” into joining the opposition coalition which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Ononuju, while speaking with Daily Post on Wednesday, claimed that Obi was lured into the coalition under false pretences and may have been sidelined in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is said to be eyeing the 2027 presidential ticket.