Obidient Movement mobilisation director resigns, says Obi abandoned unit

Morris Monye, director of mobilisation of the Obidient Movement, has tendered his resignation. 

The Obidient Movement assumed a life of its own in 2022 as Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 poll, increasingly became the darling of younger, social media-savvy voters.

In a statement on Monday, Monye cited frustration, harassment and a lack of structural support as reasons for stepping down.

He added that the LP’s poor showing during the recent Anambra election made his role “untenable”.

“Almost a year down the line, most of our short-term, medium-term and long-term plans have not been met; I will not be part of optics without work,” the statement reads.

“I and my businesses have also been harassed non-stop by sympathisers and instruments of this government; it is a role that puts a target on your back.”

Monye alleged that he and his businesses have suffered repeated harassment from supporters and agents of the current administration.

He added that he has spent about N40 million funding movement activities, including mobilisation events, travel, media campaigns and local support structures.

Monye accused Obi of neglecting the movement, adding that there was no communication between the former Anambra governor and the movement’s leadership.

“No money was given to the Directorate of Mobilisation; there is no bank account even for the directorate,” he said.

“In fact, Mr Peter Obi has never asked what we are doing in mobilisation — no communication, nothing.”

The former director added that he solely raised funds for the Obidient candidate in the just-concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra.

He also said he initiated a plan to equip polling unit agents with affordable body cameras for accountability during elections, a project he said should be completed by his successor.

“The next director must follow up on this; we have not closed it out yet,” he noted.

Monye advised that the movement should engage professional political and operations consultants to manage its polling unit structures and media campaigns.

He said the success of future campaigns will depend on structured funding, accountability and measurable performance indicators.

“You can’t run a campaign simply from general goodwill; this is not 2023 — the element of surprise is gone,” he said.

“Also, no one can be held accountable by ‘general goodwill’; they will work at their own leisure — after all, it’s goodwill. This has to be a serious business for him.”