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The Obidient Movement has announced a nationwide protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing what it described as a dangerous erosion of democratic norms and growing threats to Nigeria’s multi-party system.
In a strongly worded press statement issued Thursday and titled “A Call to Save Nigeria: Nationwide Protest to Defend Nigeria’s Democracy,” the group declared that the country has reached a critical juncture where “silence becomes dangerous and inaction becomes complicity.”
The movement expressed deep concern over what it termed the declining credibility of INEC, accusing the electoral body of failing in its constitutional role as an impartial arbiter of the people’s will. According to the statement, there is an increasing perception among Nigerians that the commission is compromised under the current administration.
The group further warned that mounting pressure on opposition voices across the country signals a troubling shift that could undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundation.
“When institutions lose credibility, the will of the people is endangered. And when that happens, citizens have a duty to act,” the statement read.
Protest and Demands
As part of its response, the Obidient Movement unveiled plans for a coordinated, peaceful nationwide protest under the banner #OccupyINEC and #SaveNigeria, to take place across all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Central to its demands is the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman, whom the group accused of “gross abuse of office, loss of public trust, and failure to uphold neutrality.”
The movement also called for:
- An end to what it described as political persecution, including intimidation and harassment of opposition figures.
- The protection of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy against actions perceived to weaken opposition parties.
- Full respect for the autonomy of political parties, specifically warning against interference in internal party affairs, including those of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Abuja Convergence
In the Federal Capital Territory, protesters are expected to gather at the national headquarters of the African Democratic Congress before proceeding in a peaceful march to the INEC headquarters. Organisers said the specific date and time for the Abuja convergence would be announced subsequently.
The group emphasized that the planned demonstrations would be peaceful and lawful, urging participants nationwide to remain disciplined and coordinated.
Warning Against One-Party Drift
The statement also sounded a broader alarm about what it described as a creeping drift toward one-party dominance in Nigeria, warning that such a trajectory would endanger democratic pluralism and national stability.
“This moment goes beyond party lines. It is about the survival of democratic values and the protection of the Nigerian state itself,” the statement noted.
Reaffirming its commitment to non-violence, the Obidient Movement stressed that the protests are driven not by anger but by a sense of civic duty to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic future.
“Nigeria must not become a one-party state. We will stand, firmly and collectively, until what is right is done,” the statement concluded.
The protest announcement comes amid heightened political tensions and growing public scrutiny of electoral processes, setting the stage for what could become a significant test of civic engagement and institutional accountability in Africa’s most populous democracy.
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