The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has constantly made the headlines since declaring his intention to become Nigeria’s next president. The OBIdient movement popular amongst Nigerian youths is looking to break the dominance of two parties (the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the All-Progressive Congress, APC) in presidential elections.
Previously referred to as a “mere online movement” the OBIdient movement has metamorphosed into a mega crusade with many volunteers from different tribes, age groups, and geographic location in the country.
Argument
Many are now claiming the presidential candidate is setting the tone for presidential campaigns that started in September.
Facts check
- The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi last week suspended his campaign to visit the victims of the flood. Other presidential candidates, including Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of PDP and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of APC, have also taken time off to sympathize with the flood victims.
- OBIdients were one of the first set of supporters to organize a mega rally or road walk to popularize Mr. Peter Obi. Since then, other support groups have followed suit.
- In late September, three opinion-based polls of who might win the presidential election in February 2023 revealed that Mr Peter Obi was far ahead of other presidential candidates. In fact, in two of the polls, the presidential candidate led both Atiku and Tinubu by over 15 percent.
- The Labour Party presidential candidate a few weeks back accused certain members of the federal government of being involved in the oil theft plaguing the country. A few days later, the federal government discovered an illegal oil well that has been running for years.
The big picture
To win the presidential election in Africa’s most populous nation of over 200 million is no simple task. There are other factors that determine the eventual victor of the presidential race.