From Obidient General to Tinubu Supporter: Southeast Mobilisation Begins Ahead of 2027
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Onwuka Jenifer
Background/News Location: Nibo, Awka South LGA, Anambra State — August 19, 2026
A prominent figure associated with the Obidient Movement in the Southeast, Mr. Ikenna Azomchine, popularly known as the “Obidient General,” has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office, urging people of the Southeast to back the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
Azomchine made the declaration while speaking during a tour of communities in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The former supporter of Peter Obi said his political position had changed after what he described as a reassessment of developments under the Tinubu administration and the political realities surrounding the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, he spent the last three years operating in opposition but had now concluded that remaining outside the mainstream political structure would not provide the Southeast with the necessary platform to pursue its long-term presidential ambition.
Azomchine argued that greater participation in the ruling political structure could strengthen the region's influence and improve its chances of producing an Igbo president in the future.
He said the decision was also influenced by what he described as increased attention to the Southeast by the Tinubu administration, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development and the appointment of people from the region into government positions.
Azomchine acknowledged that he had previously been critical of the President and his administration but said his assessment had changed based on developments he claimed to have observed since Tinubu assumed office.
He described Tinubu as a “detribalised Nigerian” and called on other members of the Obidient Movement and the wider Southeast electorate to reconsider their political positions ahead of the 2027 election.
Azomchine further disclosed that a mobilisation effort had commenced across the Southeast to persuade voters in the region to support the President's re-election bid.
He maintained that the objective was not merely to support an individual candidate but to position the Southeast strategically within Nigeria's mainstream political structure.
Another member of the group, Engineer Azubuike Chine, also defended the decision, saying members had reached their conclusions after observing what they described as the impact of the Tinubu administration at the grassroots.
The development represents a significant political shift for Azomchine, who had been publicly identified with the Obidient Movement and its support for Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.
The Obidient Movement emerged as a major political force during the 2023 election, particularly among young Nigerians and voters in the Southeast, where Obi secured substantial support.
However, ahead of the 2027 general election, political realignments are increasingly taking shape across the country, with individuals and groups reassessing their affiliations and electoral strategies.
Azomchine's declaration therefore adds to the emerging political debate in the Southeast over whether the region should continue to operate primarily outside the ruling political establishment or seek greater participation within it.
His call for support for Tinubu is expected to generate further discussion among supporters of Peter Obi and other political stakeholders in the region as preparations for the 2027 presidential election intensify.
