Obedient Movement in Oyo Rejects Akinyemi – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Anthony Ufoh

Leaders and members of various Obidient support groups in Oyo State have come together to dissociate themselves from the state leadership under Ayo Akinyemi.

During the buildup to the 2023 election, there were two parallel structures of the Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO) in Oyo State.

Ayo Akinyemi allegedly hijacked the structure from Pastor Oaks by playing a tribal card, with the help of the Labour Party Chairman. Pastor Oaks led the first one-million-man march in Oyo State, which brought the Labour Party to the limelight.

Akinyemi re-emerged in the Obidient movement picture in 2025 after the Southwest conference in Lagos, where Dr Tanko identified with other leaders.

However, Akinyemi allegedly repeated his pattern of hijacking leadership. This time, he fronted a candidate, Dr Dexter Akin Alamu, in the bye-election, who eventually garnered 256 votes.

The Ayo Akinyemi Faction reportedly sponsored Dr Tanko’s flight and hotel reservations to facilitate his recognition as the Obidient leader in the state, contrary to an appointment letter earlier issued by the National Directorate of the Obidient movement and signed by the Global Director, Dr. Tanko Yunusa.

Akinyemi is known to switch sides when financial interests are involved. He publicly aligned with the PDP during the 2023 election and issued a press statement against Peter Obi’s birthday rally, flaunting national orders.

It’s also very disappointing to hear that our principal, whom we have been working tirelessly for since 2023, nonsto,p came to Ibadan without our knowledge, only to see that it’s the usurpers that were notified and they chose not to carry others along

We abide only by your letter that appointed some leaders earlier this year, which appointed a neutral person from 2 coalitions to lead the state (Dele Abiola), signed by the global directorate office.

The aggrieved Obidient leaders of several support groups in the state categorically state that the Obidient movement leadership led by Dr Tanko Yunusa cannot impose a leader on them, as politics is local and Dr Tanko doesn’t reside in Oyo and can’t dictate who should lead us.

We will as well withdraw our support if Tanko insists on imposing Ayo Akinyemi, who claims to have followers, until the national body of the Obidient Movement do the needful by allowing a level playing ground to enable the state actors to test their popularity through votes