Obidients Fire Back as Dino Melaye Claims 2027 “Is Not Peter Obi’s Time”

The Obidient Movement has criticized recent comments made by former lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, regarding the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 elections.

The group described Melaye’s remarks as a “profound misreading” of Nigeria’s current political reality and a disservice to millions of citizens seeking change.

In a statement released on Friday, the movement acknowledged Melaye’s description of Obi as a “fantastic Nigerian” and a “great man,” but slammed his claim that the former Anambra State Governor lacks the capacity to unite the country.

The group argued that the assertion that Obi “lacks the ability to unify Nigeria” and that “this is not his time” reflects the mindset of an entrenched political establishment responsible for the nation’s current woes.

According to the movement, the idea that a candidate’s “time” should be determined by political elites rather than the urgent needs of the nation is what has hindered Nigeria’s progress for decades.

“Senator Melaye’s argument is a tired refrain from a political establishment that has long presided over the very divisions it now claims to be the sole solution for.

“The notion that a candidate’s ‘time’ is something to be determined by political gatekeepers, rather than by the urgency of a nation’s needs, is precisely the thinking that has held Nigeria captive for decades.”

Highlighting Obi’s political appeal, the group maintained that the 2023 presidential election demonstrated his ability to attract support across ethnic, regional, and religious lines.

The movement added that the real question is not whether it is Obi’s time to lead, but whether Nigerians are ready to break away from cycles of ineffective leadership, economic stagnation, and national disunity.