ABUJA/IBADAN — The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has thrown its weight behind former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s vow to serve only a single four-year term if elected in 2027, describing him as a man of integrity who can be trusted to keep his word.
Speaking on behalf of the Forum, National President Dr. Bitrus Pogu said Obi’s track record shows he honours his promises, adding that the Middle Belt had no reason to doubt his sincerity.
“We believe Peter Obi is a man of honour, and if he promises something, he will keep to it,” Pogu said. “This is not an attempt to hoodwink or deceive anyone into supporting him. His record speaks for itself.”
Pogu stressed that the endorsement was from the Middle Belt and not the entire North, while noting that the length of a leader’s tenure should ideally be determined by the constitution and the electorate, not sectional interests.
Obidient Movement Rallies in Ibadan
Meanwhile, Obi’s political base — the Obidient Movement — is consolidating its influence ahead of the 2027 elections, with a major gathering in Ibadan over the weekend.
At the Oyo State Obidient Conference themed “Going Forward 2027: A New Nigeria is Possible”, members, political analysts, and grassroots organisers converged at the Empowerment Centre, Ring Road, to strategise for the elections.
Renowned University of Ibadan linguist, Prof. Francis Egbokhare, delivered a hard-hitting keynote speech, describing Nigeria as “a giant lying prostrate, trampled by dwarfs,” and lamenting that the nation’s governance lacked direction, discipline, and adherence to the rule of law.
He urged the movement to prioritise mindset change and strategic planning over superficial politics.
“The first order of business is to restructure the mindset… Strategy is not optional; success must be summoned; it will not walk to us uninvited,” Egbokhare warned.
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, dismissed rumours of Obi leaving the Labour Party, affirming that he remains committed to both the party and his one-term leadership plan.
“If elected, he will provide a single term of purposeful leadership. Many of our problems can be solved in one year if we focus on human development, as he did in Anambra,” Yunusa said.
Oyo State Coordinator, Mr. Ayo Akinyemi, described the Ibadan conference as a pivotal moment to unify strategy and vision, calling on members to remain steadfast in pushing for a political and socio-economic turnaround in Nigeria.
“Peter Obi is the credible leader who can drive the change we seek. This is about collective determination to rebuild our nation,” Akinyemi declared.
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