The Labour Party has formally renamed its controversial ‘Directorate of OBIDIENT Affairs’ following widespread backlash from supporters of the Obidient Movement and key political figures, including its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, Deputy National Chairman of the party, admitted the party had erred in its initial decision to name the youth structure after the popular pro-Obi movement. “We made a mistake calling our youth wing ‘Obidient’. We have learnt from that mistake and have promptly changed the name to the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration,” Olorunfemi stated.
The now-abandoned “OBIDIENT” directorate, announced in May 2024, had been designed to coordinate youth mobilisation efforts and integrate the fervent Obidient supporter base into the party’s operations. However, the move was immediately met with fierce criticism. Several support groups accused the party of attempting to hijack the independent and non-partisan spirit of the movement.
Peter Obi himself distanced from the directorate, asserting that the Obidient Movement transcended party lines and could not be restricted to a political platform. His stance amplified the outrage from over 200 affiliated groups, who collectively disowned the party’s initiative.
In response, the Labour Party announced on June 6 that the new unit would henceforth be known as the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration. The inauguration of the rebranded directorate was held in Abuja on June 8.
Party insiders believe the rebranding is an attempt to salvage ties with the wider Obidient community while reaffirming the Labour Party’s openness to youth engagement without appearing to dominate or define the organic movement.
