Balami-Led Group Declares Support for Tinubu, but the base is not moving
(By The Political Razzmatazz Editorial Team | Political News)
A recent political meeting in Abuja has sparked serious conversations about the future of the Obidient Movement and the 2027 presidential race.
On Friday, Comrade Isaac Balami, who famously served as the Deputy Campaign Manager for the Obi/Datti ticket in 2023, led a delegation of professionals and support-group conveners to meet with the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
During the meeting, the group formally declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. However, taking a closer look at the facts shows that this move might not be the massive political earthquake some are claiming it to be.
A Defection That Happened Years Ago
While the headlines might make it sound like a sudden betrayal of the Obidient Movement, Balami’s political journey away from Peter Obi’s camp is not new information.
Comrade Balami officially left the Labour Party and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) back in 2023. At the time, he cited deep dissatisfaction with the Labour Party’s leadership. Since then, he has firmly positioned himself as an APC chieftain, rather than an active voice within the core Obidient Movement.
Numbers Tell the Real Story
The meeting in Abuja reportedly drew representatives from about 100 different support groups from across the country. While that is certainly a real number, it represents only a very small slice of the broader political landscape.
When compared to the millions of passionate Obidient supporters across Nigeria, the impact of this meeting appears quite limited. The vast majority of the movement’s base continues to organize independently and remains firmly rallied behind Peter Obi and the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Will This Affect 2027?
Political analysts who closely track the Obidient Movement note that this kind of realignment is common but rarely shifts the actual voter base.
Historically, the core supporters of the movement are driven by a shared ideology rather than loyalty to specific politicians. They have consistently proven that they will simply regroup and move to new platforms—like the NDC—regardless of individual defections by former campaign managers or group leaders.
Ultimately, while the Balami-led group has officially crossed over to the Tinubu camp, the broader Obidient base remains largely unmoved and deeply committed to their original vision for 2027.
Do you think these kinds of defections will weaken the opposition ahead of 2027? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!