By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
In a stunning political realignment that has sent shock waves through the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement, hundreds of staunch supporters of Mr Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, on Monday openly declared their support for Governor Charles Soludo’s re-election under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The dramatic endorsement, announced in Awka by Hon. Ikenna Azomchine, popularly known as the Obidient General, marks a significant crack within the Obidient Movement and raises new questions about political loyalty, ideology, and influence ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State.
Addressing a crowded press conference, Azomchine said the group’s decision was born out of what he described as an objective assessment of Soludo’s performance and adherence to the principles of good governance, qualities the movement claims to champion.
“We are disciples of integrity, credibility, and performance. After assessing Governor Soludo’s record, we concluded that he embodies the values Obidients stand for.
“This decision was made without any inducement or contact with him. These Obidients here are the core and most committed members of the movement in Anambra,” Azomchine declared.
The announcement, however, has been met with disbelief across Labour Party circles, coming barely months after a series of public exchanges between Peter Obi and Governor Soludo, who had been openly critical of each other’s political choices and policies.
Azomchine further argued that many “APGA Obidients” in the state had supported Obi during the 2023 presidential election despite belonging to a rival party. According to him, fairness demands reciprocation.
“We realised that during the 2023 election, most APGA members in Anambra voted for Peter Obi. Today, we are returning that gesture by supporting Governor Soludo for a second term. This is about values, not party membership,” he said.
The Obidient General also dismissed fears that his group was defecting permanently to APGA, insisting that their loyalty to Obi remains intact but that Soludo’s stewardship deserves continuity.
“We’re not joining APGA; we’re only supporting Soludo because he’s performing. After the election, we’ll still return to the Obidient fold in 2027,” he clarified.
In a symbolic show of solidarity, Azomchine later led a procession of his supporters to a rally organised by APGA members in Awka South, where they openly declared support for Soludo and donated two vehicles to aid his campaign.
Political observers say the move could reshape campaign dynamics in Anambra, where Soludo faces multiple challengers, including the APC’s Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Labour Party’s Senator Victor Umeh.
Analysts describe the Obidients’ endorsement as both a tactical and psychological gain for Soludo, who has faced criticism for his earlier dismissive remarks about Peter Obi’s national popularity.
Yet, critics view the endorsement as a betrayal of the movement’s ideals.
Some Labour Party loyalists have accused Azomchine and his followers of “political opportunism,” alleging that their action undermines the credibility of the Obidient brand, which gained nationwide prominence for its anti-establishment stance.
While Azomchine insists that “no money exchanged hands,” insiders say the group’s sudden pivot to Soludo has stirred quiet unrest among the ranks of Peter Obi’s grassroots support network in Anambra.
As the campaign season gathers momentum, the shock endorsement underscores how fluid and unpredictable the political terrain has become in Anambra, a state where religious sentiment, performance perception, and personal loyalty often override strict party allegiance.
Whether this defection will translate into electoral advantage for Soludo or deepen internal fractures within the Obidient Movement remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the November election has just taken a dramatic new turn.
