The Obidient Movement has taken note of the repeated disregard, disrespect, and political injustice shown to its members by political parties and politicians who want to benefit from its strength, credibility, structure, reach, and public goodwill.
We have also taken note of the recent statement credited to Senator Seriake Dickson, where he reportedly told Obidients not to disparage him or his party, and claimed that NDC is doing Peter Obi and Obidients a favour by granting them its platform.
We have heard him clearly.
We also noticed the troubling tone of ownership in that interview. The possessive and self-important language made NDC sound less like a democratic party set up to rescue Nigerians and more like the personal property of one man. If NDC was truly set up to save Nigerians, then it must be a party for Nigerians, not a private estate where citizens are expected to kneel and thank one man for political access. Political parties are supposed to belong to the people, their members, and the public interest, not to one man or a small circle of political landlords.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Obidient Movement is not owned by any political party. We are not political slaves. We are not campaign tools. We are not a crowd to be summoned during election season and ignored when decisions are being made.
If NDC believes it is doing Obidients a favour, then we will no longer force our favour on NDC.
Since we have been rudely reminded that we do not own the party, and since we are being told that nobody is doing NDC any favour, it is time for us to withdraw automatic political charity and move into non-partisan, people-centred politics.
We must also speak for the aspirants and ordinary members who reportedly went through primaries in good faith, spent money, mobilised supporters, earned their place, and were later allegedly cheated, replaced, or pushed aside. If a party cannot protect fairness inside its own house, it has no moral right to preach justice to Nigerians. People who worked for their mandate must not be sacrificed for backroom deals and political convenience.
In view of recent events, and the continued failure of party leaderships to treat the movement with the respect it deserves, we hereby suspend the Top to Bottom campaign approach.
Going forward, every candidate must stand on their own record, competence, character, capacity, and public credibility.
Whether a candidate is in NDC, ADC, PDP, Labour Party, or any other political platform, they must campaign on issues. They must face the people. They must explain what they have done, what they can do, and why Nigerians should trust them with power.
Peter Obi has shown the standard. He campaigns on issues. He speaks to governance, economy, education, security, production, accountability, and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. Any candidate who wants the support of the people must do the same.
No candidate will be allowed to ride on Obi’s wave while disrespecting the same movement that built and sustained that wave.
No more automatic support.
No more blind loyalty.
No more party-first politics.
No more “vote them because they are under our platform.”
From today, we are moving from Top to Bottom to Operation No Work, No Vote.
No work, no vote.
Nigerian politicians have shown repeatedly that many of them are on the same side when it comes to protecting their interests against the masses. They change parties, form alliances, recycle themselves, insult the people, and still expect the people to keep clapping. That era must end.
Our loyalty is to good governance, competence, integrity, justice, accountability, and the Nigerian people.
At the presidential level, our position remains clear. Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso are the only ticket we recognise for the national rescue mission.
Every other candidate, at every other level, must prove themselves.
They must show capacity.
They must show integrity.
They must show their work.
