₦airaland Forum

James Kitiya, a former supporter of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has explained why he stopped supporting the former Anambra State governor after he was spotted wearing a cap bearing President Bola Tinubu’s insignia at the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award.

Kitiya drew attention at the event after he was seen among young Nigerians who surrounded Obi on his arrival at the venue to greet him and take pictures with him, despite openly wearing a cap associated with President Tinubu.

A video of the moment, which showed Kitiya moving alongside Obi and other youths into the event hall, sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians commending Obi for tolerating someone wearing Tinubu’s cap around him, while others questioned his closeness to the former governor of Anambra State.

Amid the reactions, Kitiya, who claimed he worked for Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign in the Apapa area of Lagos, shared an old photograph of himself to prove his previous support for the former presidential candidate.

Speaking on what transpired between him and Obi after the viral moment, Kitiya said Obi recognised him immediately and appeared surprised to see him.

“When Obi saw me, he was shocked because he had seen my face before. People didn’t know why Obi dey look me,” he said.

According to him, shortly after the encounter, he had a private conversation with Obi, along with another individual identified as Dr. Moses, at the Eko Hotel.

“Immediately we left that scene, inside Eko Hotel, Obi, Dr. Moses, three of us sat down and I told Obi to his face. I asked him, ” Do you know why I left? Obi did not talk,” he said.

Kitiya said he told Obi that some of his strong supporters in Lagos had been compromised and advised him to take control of his political base in the state.

“I told him to hold his strong supporters in Lagos. Some of his supporters in Lagos have been bought,” he said.

He added that he also told Obi the condition under which he would consider supporting him again.

“He now asked me, what should he do? And I said, ‘If you leave Atiku, I will support you.’ That’s what I told him. That guy (Dr. Moses) is a witness,” he stated.

Explaining why he left Obi’s camp, Kitiya said he became confused by Obi’s political direction and eventually defected to the All Progressives Congress in Adamawa State in February.

“I told Obi that I was confused because of his way. If I dey confused, make I hide am? Person wey I don work for before,” he said.

AMINDA:
Lol. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway propaganda media machinery are on overdrive due to panic and trepidation. Tinubu and his minions are now realising that they made a mistake by frustrating Obi out of the Labour party. They are now desperate for Obi to run solo. Why not just leave him at LP where he was? They have now inadvertently united Atiku, Kwankwaso, Obi, Amaechi, Elrufai, etc under one umbrella and there are no answers for that beyond using the courts to stop the party. But that will be yet another strategic mistake.

aswani:
A lot of stuff to debunk in your post but I will choose one.

Per the bolded, there is nothing United about them, these ones are not even waiting till primaries before starting their blood letting.

You as an Atiku supporter should know that Obidients are not ready to accept anything but a Pater Obí Presidential candidate, you also know that Atiku did not "set up" ADC to give that ticket to anyone. Where is the unity there?

SeeWahala:
I remember when I stumbled upon your life last year and was engaging you on your APC followership but you claimed you were apolitical and did not follow politics closely lol 😂😆

It didn't even take up to 2 months for me to see how you enjoyed this section like how winnie the Pooh loved honey 🤗

Hehehe 🤭 Chameleon 🦎 wey dey disguise 😏

fergie001:
If he leaves Atiku, he won't win
If Atiku leaves him, he won't win.

Na simple sturvs nah

fergie001:
If he leaves Atiku, he won't win
If Atiku leaves him, he won't win.

Na simple sturvs nah 😂

HacheNoire:
Matthew 11:28-29

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.


I am glad he is finally saved, never to return to sin, and a world where you have to hope for impossibilities.

For we the believers of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), we have been formed and built to always win and conquer.

Parachoko:
The Agulu Fraud will never become the President Of Nigeria

chopnaira:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/04/why-i-stopped-supporting-obi-ex-obidient-wearing-tinubus-cap-at-vanguard-award/

AMINDA:
Lol. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway propaganda media machinery are on overdrive due to panic and trepidation. Tinubu and his minions are now realising that they made a mistake by frustrating Obi out of the Labour party. They are now desperate for Obi to run solo. Why not just leave him at LP where he was? They have now inadvertently united Atiku, Kwankwaso, Obi, Amaechi, Elrufai, etc under one umbrella and there are no answers for that beyond using the courts to stop the party. But that will be yet another strategic mistake.

focus7:
I know many people that supported Peter Obi in 2023 but have withdrawn their supports for him now.