The Director of News at Arise Television, Sumner Sambo, has argued that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, is no longer in a position to provide the kind of leadership required to sustain and grow the Obidient Movement, urging him to institutionalise the movement beyond his personal political ambition.
Speaking during an appearance on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme on Wednesday, Sambo said the Obidient Movement has evolved into a significant political and civic force that should not remain dependent on a single individual.
According to him, while Obi remains the symbol and inspiration behind the movement, its long-term survival and effectiveness would depend on building a structured organisation with clearly defined leadership, succession mechanisms and institutional frameworks.
Sambo maintained that the movement has grown beyond being merely a campaign platform for Obi’s presidential aspirations, stressing that it should be transformed into a sustainable political movement capable of influencing governance and democratic reforms irrespective of electoral outcomes.
“The movement is greater than Peter Obi himself. It needs to be properly structured with leadership that can sustain it beyond one individual’s political ambition,” he said during the interview.
He noted that many successful political movements across the world have endured because they developed enduring institutions rather than relying solely on charismatic personalities.
The media executive urged Obi to seize the opportunity to strengthen the movement by empowering competent leaders across the country and establishing structures that would ensure continuity even after the 2027 elections.
His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the future of the Obidient Movement following Obi’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election. The movement has remained one of Nigeria’s most influential grassroots political platforms, mobilising supporters across the country and in the diaspora.
Peter Obi has consistently maintained that the Obidient Movement is larger than any political party and should remain a broad-based citizens’ movement committed to promoting good governance, accountability and democratic values. He has previously stated that the movement is not domiciled in any political party and transcends ethnic, religious and partisan affiliations.
