The Obidient Movement has fired back at Omoyele Sowore over his recent comments downplaying Peter Obi’s role as an opposition figure. Sowore, speaking on Channels TV’s Inside Sources, had said Peter Obi shouldn’t be considered part of the opposition, claiming the Labour Party candidate hasn’t taken a stand against the Tinubu administration and stayed silent on issues like fuel price hikes.

But in response, Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said Obi remains one of the most talked-about figures in Nigerian politics, proving his influence and relevance. “If he’s not a real opposition, why does everyone keep talking about him?” Tanko asked. “The truth is, without mentioning Peter Obi, none of them gets attention. Everything he says or does becomes headline news.”

He also criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for bringing up Obi’s name during a tribute event, accusing him of using the moment for character attacks rather than addressing national issues. “Instead of focusing on policies, they’re attacking Peter Obi’s character,” Tanko said. “They should let him keep doing what he does best — standing up to the system for the sake of the Nigerian people. That’s what he’s committed to, and that’s what we’ll keep supporting.”

Former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has made it clear that she has no plans of returning to Aso Rock Villa in 2027, offering her full support to First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and her husband ahead of the 2027 elections.

Patience Jonathan expressed her endorsement while attending the Women Icon Leader of the Year award ceremony, where she honored Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the daughter of President Bola Tinubu and the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, in Abuja on Saturday night.

During her speech, Jonathan praised Tinubu-Ojo and reaffirmed her loyalty to the First Lady. She emphasized the importance of unity, saying, “There is only one president at a time. When it’s your turn, I’ll support you. And when it’s not, I’ll step back.”

She also took a moment to recall the support she and her husband received from Remi Tinubu and the president during their 2011 presidential campaign. Jonathan stressed that instead of aiming for a return to Aso Rock, her focus is on standing by the First Lady and supporting her efforts.

“I’ve known Oluremi for a long time,” Jonathan shared. “We’ve worked together as wives of governors and deputy governors. I will not abandon my friend. I am not running for office, and I won’t go back to the Villa.

If you call me, I won’t come. I stand by my friend.” Jonathan concluded by reminding everyone that leadership is about “turn by turn” and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Senator Oluremi Tinubu and her husband’s vision for the country.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will not be pressured into stepping down from his 2027 presidential ambition.

Sowunmi insisted that Atiku has every right to run for president, no matter how many times he has contested in the past. He noted that while Atiku has lost twice to the ruling APC—first to Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and then to Bola Tinubu in 2023—those defeats should not disqualify him from future contests.

As discussions around the 2027 elections heat up, there’s growing debate over whether Atiku should make way for a younger candidate. But Sowunmi isn’t buying it. He argued that politics is full of persuasion and pressure, but the choice to contest is ultimately a personal one protected by law.

“People are spending too much time trying to force Atiku out instead of focusing on how to win the election. You can’t bully him. If anything, the more you try, the more determined he becomes,” Sowunmi said.