Peter Obi of the Labour Party may have been derided when entered the presidential race, but les than two weeks to the election, he seems like the man to beat.

He has chased down two of the leading candidates in the campaign, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party , and equally staged large rallies across the country.

After staging large rallies and showing doubters that the Obidients Movement is not just on social media, the former Anambra State Governor is now going directly to meet voters.

Obi ended his campaign with an eye-catching Lagos rally that drew a reported over 80,000 attendees and well over 10km road walk to the venue with a reported over one million live views online.

On Monday, he showed political sagacity when he visited the computer village in Lagos and was welcomed by a mammoth reception.

The unannounced visit forced traders and customers to abandon their stores and businesses to catch a glimpse of the man they believe has the character to change the country for the better.

Obi’s direct approach to the campaign may be a breath of fresh air for many of his supporters.

According to one of the coordinators of the Obidient Movement in Abuja who spoke to THE WHISTLER, Ralph Obinna ‘aka’ Obi Obinna, said Obi has changed the structure of political campaigns in the country.

Obinna said Nigeria needs people like Obi to come out and change things. “He has blown them away with his campaign, next four years would be better whether he wins or not,” he said, smiling.

But Obi believes he can win and appeared to have identified where the votes are and is going after them.

“He has identified where the votes are and wants to take the campaign to them, to speak with them directly instead of through a corrupt structure,” said Thomas Aliku, an Obidient Movement strategist.

Aliku explained that Obi’s support is organic, self funded, he and his crew scattered across the country are relatively not known.

He said, “We started late because we thought what is it we can bring to the table.

“We realised that one area many members of the movement may not think about is the technical part of the campaign which is the strategy of the campaign. And we have been doing it.

“Our job is to win one voter every time from all of us for Obi in the market and telling them to win one person, that’s a contact-to-contact campaign. We have been hugely successful.

“Our candidate is doing that now but in a different way by going to where the voters are and selling himself for those ones to sell him.”

While critics have said lack of candidates by the Labour Party in all available elective positions would also hurt Obi’s chances as the number of people who would sell the candidate at the grassroots would be limited, Yusuf Danladi, a car dealer in Abuja, said it’s not true.

He said he had succeeded in speaking to over 200 people about Obi since the campaign started.

He told THE WHISTLER that “Whenever people come, i shout Obidient and surprisingly almost all smile and shout back. They are not pretending. Even those who don’t shout back ask why am I supporting Obi as a northern Muslim.

“By the time I explain to them, they nod their heads and declare their support.

“I can tell you that over 200 people have been converted by me at this car stand alone. I am a member of Arewa Obi WhatsApp group and a few others. We know how we are doing the campaign for Obi and Yusuf Datti-Ahmed and Nigerians.

“It’s our future. We must not fail.”

No one knows Obi’s itinerary when it comes to where next he would pop up but a member of his campaign confided in this paper that, “Obi won’t leave Lagos soon. He feels and everyone feels he can take Lagos.

There is that sense Lagos can fall for the Labour Party,” which he said can lead to domino effect.

Obidients believe they can take Lagos from the ruling APC because of the massive support Obi gets from Lagos.

“We have our strategy and it’s working. If you think Monday’s unscheduled visit to Computer village, Ladipo in Lagos was meaningless, wait for it.

“We would take Lagos, I can assure you of that,” a member told this newspaper.

Obi is said to be paying less attention to the South East and South South because he believes he’s the candidate to beat in the two regions.

The source said further, “He has those two regions in the bag. Even North Central is in the bag and if we take Lagos, we take South West.

“With three leading candidates in the election, one has to be careful of his strategy.

“We must do everything possible to be in the run off if it comes down to that. That’s the technical part of this campaign.”

The spokesman of the Obi/Datti presidential campaign, Yunusa Tanko, told THE WHISTLER that the new strategy after the grand rally in Lagos is to interface with likely voters at the polling units to canvas for vote.

“We have our strategy,” he said, “and it’s designed for maximum results. We have ended the grand rally, our next strategy is moving from polling unit to polling unit.

“We want likely voters at their various polling units to hear us directly.

“That’s where the action is now. As I am talking to you, we are heading to Nnewi, a local government in Anambra State to do just that.

“We hope to bring the message of inclusivity, consumption to production and a new Nigeria to them in small units.

“To be clear, the remaining period would be spent doing just that – canvas for votes at these polling units nationwide,” he stressed.

While the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a party Obi defected from in 2022 and the APC are still staging big rallies, Tanko said, “Our strategy is different. We are organic,” and hopes that in the end Obi would emerge victorious at the poll on February 25.

https://cdn-af.feednews.com/news/detail/73e64ced79a941cac781e70a0385003c?features=2114057&uid=9839fd3af1c86f4026f91d8fa82fff3410248822&like_count=29&client=mini

Sadly it will be hard to swallow defeat

Mr Tinubu and his urchins should take this defeat in good fate. You have the opportunity to re-contest by 2031 election.

We yoruba Christians will never vote Tinubu on Muslim-Muslim ticket because we are not fools. When MURIC terrorists told Yoruba Muslims not to vote Yoruba Christians, they all agree.

Christians are not minorities, slaves, or second class citizens in Nigeria. Mu-Mu ticket is a big insult to we Yoruba Christians and we shall punish Tinubu for that before Satan will also punish him.

"We cannot appoint Pablo Escobar as president and Osama bin Laden as vice president," -- Senator Dino Melaye.

Obidatti's political sagacity has cleared the doubts of the PDP and APC echelons.

From 3 people in a room tweeting to his victory will only come through the manipulation & hacking of BVAS 🤣🤣🤣 urchins will never disappoint of being useless.

Obi is a man his time has come!

Abeg naijabet still dey reduce Peter Obi odds?

May God bless Bola Ahmed Tinubu the incoming president of Nigeria

Oga at the top do u mean president of iragbiji sunshine club cos ayamnot understanding oo

JealousCobra:



Obidatti's political sagacity has cleared the doubts of the PDP and APC echelons.

From 3 people in a room tweeting to his victory will only come through the manipulation & hacking of BVAS 🤣🤣🤣 urchins will never disappoint of being useless.

Obi is a man his time has come!

I was able to convince a man to tinubu camp today

After I finished analyzing d 3 political aspirants d man told me

“One thing wey dey vex me about that obi is that he’s always acting holy n na holy people na dem thief pass, I can’t vote a pretender like buhari again…let’s try bola tinubu “



I was so happy

Yinmu!

BATified2023:
I was able to convince a man to tinubu camp today

After I finished analyzing d 3 political aspirants d man told me

“One thing wey dey vex me about that obi is that he’s always acting holy n na holy people na dem thief pass, I can’t vote a pretender like buhari again…let’s try bola tinubu “



I was so happy

Enjoy your happiness while it lasts 😂🤣🤣 Feb 25th ain't far again.

Newton2024:
https://cdn-af.feednews.com/news/detail/73e64ced79a941cac781e70a0385003c?features=2114057&uid=9839fd3af1c86f4026f91d8fa82fff3410248822&like_count=29&client=mini

The age old plan of the Igbos (since the days of Azkikwe) to take over Lagos politically will fail on the 25th just as it has always failed. Yorubas are not stupid people. They didn't come this far in their socio-economic development by been stupid. Even though a few Yorubas are supporting Obi just to make themselves look cool on social media, Yorubas will DELIVER Lagos EMPHATICALLY to Tinubu come 25th. After this election, the relationship between Yorubas and Ibos will NEVER be the same. Mark my words. Ibos have threatened many Yorubas with death and violence. What was their sin? They voice their choice for Tinubu. Many Yorubas are just waiting for the election to be over, that is when Ibos will realize that 'when someone threats you good, you should reciprocate. If you reward good with evil, one day you will pay dearly.'

Mark my words.

This is how Ibos want to take Lagos away from Yorubas politically?

floret23:
We yoruba Christians will never vote Tinubu on Muslim-Muslim ticket because we are not fools. When MURIC terrorists told Yoruba Muslims not to vote Yoruba Christians, they all agree.

Christians are not minorities, slaves, or second class citizens in Nigeria. Mu-Mu ticket is a big insult to we Yoruba Christians and we shall punish Tinubu for that before Satan will also punish him.

"We cannot appoint Pablo Escobar as president and Osama bin Laden as vice president," -- Senator Dino Melaye.

Hope you know that Adeleke won osun, a Muslim dominated state on a Christian Christian ticket

Lagos rally with 80,000 attendees

JealousCobra:



Obidatti's political sagacity has cleared the doubts of the PDP and APC echelons.

From 3 people in a room tweeting to his victory will only come through the manipulation & hacking of BVAS 🤣🤣🤣 urchins will never disappoint of being useless.

Obi is a man his time has come!

To be fair to oshiomole he actually said 4 people tweeting in a room.
1 with God is majority then imagine 4 with God.
The shock that awaits mikano and agbado on Feb 25 will be able to power Nigeria for 73 years uninterrupted.

When in history have you in the East ever voted a Yoruba man over Hausa before?

In first republic you chose Balewa over Awolowo

In 2nd republic you voted Shagari over Awolowo

In 3rd republic you voted Tofa over Abiola

No worry North and Yoruba would be alternating it between ourselves. Give your votes to yourselves

mike8804:
When in history have you in the East ever voted a Yoruba man over Hausa before?

In first republic you chose Balewa over Awolowo

In 2nd republic you voted Shagari over Awolowo

In 3rd republic you voted Tofa over Abiola

No worry North and Yoruba would be alternating it between ourselves. Give your votes to yourselves

And unfortunately, your history class stopped in the 1993? And even in 1993, who won Anambra, Obi’s home state, between Abiola and Torfa?

Who did Igbos vote for in 1999?

Who did Igbos vote for in 2003 even when Ojukwu was on the ballot and Buhari had an Igbo man as running mate?

Why do you engage in these kind of lies and propaganda?

yarimo:

You are still stuck with rally grounds
We have moved pass that

Not only 80k attendees, na 80 billion

floret23:
We yoruba Christians will never vote Tinubu on Muslim-Muslim ticket because we are not fools. When MURIC terrorists told Yoruba Muslims not to vote Yoruba Christians, they all agree.

Christians are not minorities, slaves, or second class citizens in Nigeria. Mu-Mu ticket is a big insult to we Yoruba Christians and we shall punish Tinubu for that before Satan will also punish him.

"We cannot appoint Pablo Escobar as president and Osama bin Laden as vice president," -- Senator Dino Melaye.

May your family be destroyed with war, may you never find a peaceful home.
This is the curse to any idiot like you that think they can use religion to separate yoruba.
A true yoruba wont use the word yoruba Muslim or yoruba christain

Go and find another strategy to divide, this is dead on arrival

You know why it cant work.... a yoruba family is usually mixed, someone may have an aunt or inlaw as Muslim or Christian , so u have failed you shameless thing

qawiyy:


Hope you know that Adeleke won osun, a Muslim dominated state on a Christian Christian ticket

The fool is not a yoruba

The spokesman of the Obi/Datti presidential campaign, Yunusa Tanko, told THE WHISTLER that the new strategy after the grand rally in Lagos is to interface with likely voters at the polling units to canvas for vote.
Same mushroom labour party that has no NA candidates in more than half NA constituency election in the nation begging INEC chairman just last week Friday or so to help it with its own list of polling unit agents now lying it is going from polling unit to polling unit.
smh.

They can only do this senrere in Anambra, elsewhere they do not even have or know their PU agents.

mike8804:
When in history have you in the East ever voted a Yoruba man over Hausa before?

In first republic you chose Balewa over Awolowo

In 2nd republic you voted Shagari over Awolowo

In 3rd republic you voted Tofa over Abiola

No worry North and Yoruba would be alternating it between ourselves. Give your votes to yourselves

Incomplete history to suite your evil narrative.

Did I miss you stating the fourth republic?
No of course

The Igbos of the south east region voted massively for the yorubas in 1999 and 2003 even when someone like Tinubu did not support his ethnic nationality taking the leadership position of the country. Ojukwu was on the ballot for APGA and Dr Chuba Okadigo was the Vice presidential candidate to ANPP the Igbos still overwhelmingly voted for the yorubas.

Keep dishing false narrative to suit your bigotic minds.

All ethnic groups in Nigeria matters, the Igbos matter and I will vote their best candidate Obi.

Penguin2:


And unfortunately, your history class stopped in the 1993? And even in 1993, who won Anambra, Obi’s home state, between Abiola and Torfa?

Who did Igbos vote for in 1999?

Who did Igbos vote for in 2003 even when Ojukwu was on the ballot and Buhari had an Igbo man as running mate?

Why do you engage in these kind of lies and propaganda?

thanks for educating him!!

May God dedicate politician the incoming prez of Nigeria

YungMillionaire:
The age old plan of the Igbos (since the days of Azkikwe) to take over Lagos politically will fail on the 25th just as it has always failed. Yorubas are not stupid people. They didn't come this far in their socio-economic development by been stupid. Even though a few Yorubas are supporting Obi just to make themselves look cool on social media, Yorubas will DELIVER Lagos EMPHATICALLY to Tinubu come 25th. After this election, the relationship between Yorubas and Ibos will NEVER be the same. Mark my words. Ibos have threatened many Yorubas with death and violence. What was their sin? They voice their choice for Tinubu. Many Yorubas are just waiting for the election to be over, that is when Ibos will realize that 'when someone threats you good, you should reciprocate. If you reward good with evil, one day you will pay dearly.'

Mark my words.

pig!

What brought Igbos into this discussion now?

Can't you comment like others without mentioning any ethnic group?

Point to anyone that mentioned Yoruba before you...

Omoawoke:


May your family be destroyed with war, may you never find a peaceful home.
This is the curse to any idiot like you that think they can use religion to separate yoruba.
A true yoruba wont use the word yoruba Muslim or yoruba christain

Go and find another strategy to divide, this is dead on arrival

You know why it cant work.... a yoruba family is usually mixed, someone may have an aunt or inlaw as Muslim or Christian , so u have failed you shameless thing

They will be shocked if they "marry" into a Yoruba family, to find their mother inlaw is a muslim, the mother inlaws' brother is a traditionalist and they both celebrate salah and christmass as if they are both in the same religion. Some of these people on social media dont understand anything at all.

Omoawoke:


May your family be destroyed with war, may you never find a peaceful home.
This is the curse to any idiot like you that think they can use religion to separate yoruba.
A true yoruba wont use the word yoruba Muslim or yoruba christain

Go and find another strategy to divide, this is dead on arrival

You know why it cant work.... a yoruba family is usually mixed, someone may have an aunt or inlaw as Muslim or Christian , so u have failed you shameless thing

So Akintola is a bastard?

Just imagine Obi won the PDP ticket. By now Tinubu would have declared Oduduwa Republic because the defeat would have been too conspicuous.

Just imagine on Feb 26th, Obi is declared the winner... Nigeria for too better.