The defection of Dr Yunusa Tanko, former National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has brought renewed attention to the growing list of prominent figures who once worked closely with Peter Obi but have since left his political camp or publicly disagreed with his decisions.
Tanko played a prominent role in Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, serving as National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement.
He recently accepted an appointment as Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo.
His departure has raised fresh questions about the political alliances surrounding the former Anambra State governor as preparations gather momentum for the 2027 general election.
Other notable figures who have parted ways with Obi or expressed disagreements with his political direction include his former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed; former campaign Director-General, Doyin Okupe; actor and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo; former Anambra governorship candidate, Valentine Ozigbo; and former Deputy Campaign Manager, Isaac Balami.
Baba-Ahmed was Obi’s running mate on the Labour Party ticket during the 2023 presidential election. He has also publicly expressed reservations about aspects of Obi’s political direction.
Okupe, who served as Director-General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, later left the Labour Party and openly disagreed with Obi over his political choices.
Okonkwo, another prominent spokesperson for the Obi-Datti campaign in 2023, also separated from the former governor and subsequently became a vocal critic of his political strategy.
Ozigbo, who contested the Anambra governorship election and was regarded as a political ally of Obi, also moved away from his camp in 2025.
Balami, who served as Deputy Campaign Manager of the Obi-Datti presidential campaign, later aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
