Yunusa Tanko leaves Obidient coordination role for Obi’s northern advisory post

Yunusa Tanko has accepted an appointment as Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria to Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Tanko announced the move in a statement posted on his X account on Wednesday. He said the assignment would focus on political engagement, mobilisation and coordination across Northern Nigeria.

The appointment follows Tanko’s two-year tenure as National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement. He said the movement established structures across the country during that period and that his new responsibilities would require his full attention and presence across the northern region. Tanko said he would work with the movement’s structures, stakeholders, communities and supporters.

He thanked Obi, the movement’s leaders, volunteers, coordinators and supporters for their backing during his tenure. He also announced that Dr Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr Mo, would succeed him as national coordinator. Tanko described Paul as someone who had been part of the movement from its beginning and credited him with commitment to civic engagement, grassroots mobilisation and communication.

Tanko said the movement had established a National Advisory Council and developed regional and grassroots coordination structures during his tenure. He also cited the creation of its online mobilisation platform, Obidient.com, and an election-results monitoring system linked to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s results-viewing platform. He expressed confidence that Paul would provide the national coordination with the attention and inclusiveness required as the 2027 elections approach.

Tanko urged the movement’s leaders, coordinators and volunteers to support the new national coordinator. He said the structures developed over the previous two years would form a foundation for his work across Northern Nigeria. The material does not provide further details about the timing or administrative arrangements for the transition.