Daniel Onjeh has withdrawn support for Tinubu and Alia, declaring himself “humbly Obidient” and backing Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 elections
Former All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial aspirant Daniel Onjeh has withdrawn his support for President Bola Tinubu and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, declaring his alignment with the political movement backing Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Onjeh, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, announced the decision on Thursday, August 20, 2026, while sharing footage of his recent meeting with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in the 2023 election.
In the post accompanying the video, Daniel Onjeh described himself as “humbly Obidient”, signalling his support for Obi and the wider Obidient movement.
“They misconstrued my principles as stubbornness. Now, I’m humbly Obidient. You go where you’re valued,” Onjeh wrote.
The announcement represents a notable shift for Onjeh, who had previously been a vocal supporter of Tinubu and Alia within the APC.
His decision comes months before the 2027 general elections and could add fresh political intrigue to the contest for influence in Benue South Senatorial District.
Onjeh did not publicly give a specific reason for withdrawing his support for the APC leaders. However, his political realignment comes after he failed to secure the APC senatorial ticket ahead of the January election.
The former NANS president had contested the APC primary held in May 2026 as he sought the party’s ticket to represent Benue South Senatorial District.
His subsequent meeting with Kwankwaso has also attracted attention because of the changing political alignments ahead of 2027.
Although Kwankwaso and Obi were prominent figures in the opposition politics of the 2023 election, their respective political paths have since continued to evolve.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election, remains a major figure within the Obidient movement, which has maintained a strong following among young Nigerians and opposition supporters.
For Onjeh, the latest declaration marks a clear departure from his previous political positioning within the governing APC.
His statement that he would “go where you’re valued” also suggests that his decision was influenced by his experience within the party, although he stopped short of directly accusing Tinubu, Alia or other APC leaders of any specific wrongdoing.
The development is likely to generate further discussion within Benue political circles as parties and political figures begin positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
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With the election still months away, Onjeh’s move highlights the fluid nature of Nigeria’s opposition politics, where former allies are increasingly reassessing their affiliations and exploring new political platforms.
