A public affairs analyst and communication scholar, Nduka Odo, has warned that supporters of Peter Obi may present a serious challenge to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the 2027 presidential race approaches, as reported by Daily Post on Thursday, 10th July, 2025.
Odo said the loyalty and character of Obi’s supporters, known as the Obidients, make them different from traditional political followers.
He explained that while the supporters of other aspirants, like Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, can be managed through political arrangements, the Obidients are harder to control even by Obi himself.
According to Odo, the ADC is currently like a political marriage of convenience, with key figures coming together to remove President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, the ambitions of these politicians are now being tested against their willingness to cooperate.
He noted that Atiku’s supporters are mostly experienced political actors who can be convinced to work with any candidate the coalition chooses, provided their interests are protected.
Odo said their loyalty is often tied to access to power and benefits.
If ADC offers that, they will stay; if not, they may switch to the ruling APC.
While Obi’s supporters are mostly young Nigerians who are tired of traditional politics.
They see Obi as a symbol of hope and change, and many of them are driven by ideals rather than rewards.
Odo said this group will not accept any decision that sidelines Obi.
If Obi is not given the ADC presidential ticket, the Obidients are likely to walk away, even if he personally asks them to stay.
“Supporters of Peter Obi will pose a different kind of threat to the coalition. Unlike most candidates, Obi is not in control of his supporters. It is more like his supporters are in control.”
“The Obidients are an amorphous group of individuals, mostly young, who are dissatisfied with the old order of doing things in Nigeria. They want something different, and Obi happens to represent that something new and different, to a greater percentage,” he said.
