The International Coordinator of the Obedient Movement Worldwide, Barry Johnson, has stated that the Obidient Movement existed before the endorsement of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that the movement was originally founded on a broader political ideology rather than support for a single individual.
Johnson made the remarks during an interview from 12:10 on News Central TV on Saturday, May 16, 2026, while addressing internal disagreements within the movement and the growing division among supporters.
According to him, the movement initially operated under the identity “OBE” before Peter Obi emerged as its endorsed presidential candidate during the 2023 general election. “The Obidient movement was already formed before there was an endorsement. And when we formed it, it was OBE, not OBI,” Johnson said.
He explained that the name later evolved following Obi’s emergence as the movement’s preferred candidate. “It became Obi when we endorsed Peter Obi as the candidate for the Obidient movement. That’s what happened,” he added.
Johnson, however, accused Obi of contributing to divisions within the movement through repeated political realignments, which he described as destabilising to the organisation’s structure and unity. “And now, because of the jumpologistic character of Peter Obi, scattering the Obidient movement. Right now, as I’m talking to you, some obedient movement are in ADC, some are in Labour Party, some are in, some followed him, and some are in the ADC,” he stated.
He further referenced Lagos politician, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, while discussing what he described as growing frustration among members of the movement. “So you can see the Lagos boy who nearly became governor in 2023, Gbadebo, he remained in the ADC. Why? He was supposed to follow Peter Obi, but he refused because the jumpology attitude has become too much,” Johnson said.
The Obedient Movement coordinator worldwide described the development as harmful to political organisation and coalition-building efforts that began ahead of the 2023 elections. “It’s becoming a new political nuisance, and that is a scattering of any gathering that the politics has given us opportunity to do right from 2023,” he stated.
Johnson maintained that the movement’s leadership decided to distance itself from Peter Obi and Yunusa Tanko in order to preserve what he described as the organisation’s original mission and identity.
“So the best thing to do is to expel them from the movement, and return the movement to its original form. And from there, we started. Now we told the world that we are running an Obidient movement spelled with OBE, and Obedient for Nigeria,” he added….Read_More…