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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Obidient Movement has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating attacks on opposition supporters in Enugu, Edo, Delta and Benue states, warning that failure to bring perpetrators to justice could push Nigeria towards anarchy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement cited reported deaths in Enugu and Benue, threats of violence in Edo and alleged harassment of opposition members in Delta, saying security agencies’ handling of the incidents was emboldening perpetrators and undermining citizens’ democratic rights.
In a statement dated October 12 by Onyeka Dike of its Media and Communications Directorate, the group demanded accountability and urged its supporters to document threats, report attacks and protect themselves within the law.
“The pattern is becoming impossible to ignore, and the refusal of security agencies to consistently prevent these attacks or hold perpetrators accountable is emboldening those who threaten our democracy,” it said.
In Enugu, the movement alleged that armed APC supporters disrupted political activities of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the weekend, firing shots that injured several supporters and reportedly killed one person.
It claimed that the attackers pursued NDC supporters from the airport to the party’s campaign office.
The group also cited footage published by Premium Times which, it said, showed a uniformed security operative standing by while a supporter was assaulted.
It further alleged that suspects arrested over an earlier attack on NDC members on September 12 were released by the police, while the person who recorded and reported the incident was arrested.
The movement accused the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies of failing to protect opposition supporters and ensure accountability.
In Edo, it accused APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, of threatening violence against anyone who obstructed the party’s target of securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu.
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The group alleged that Tenebe openly invoked the use of AK-47 rifles, yet security agencies failed to act against what it described as political intimidation.
In Delta, the movement claimed that an NDC member’s business was sealed following a peaceful march in support of the party.
It also alleged that Sochi Okolo, a member of the Victor Ochei Campaign Council and former senior media aide to the chairman of Aniocha North Local Government Area, was taken from his home and detained by the police after defecting from the APC to the NDC.
In Benue, the group said Igbu Terhemen, chairman of the NDC Fiidi Ward Council, was attacked and subsequently died. It called for a thorough investigation and alleged that other attacks on the party in the state were politically motivated.
“These are not acceptable conditions for a democracy approaching a general election,” the movement said.
It warned that failure to punish perpetrators could deepen tensions and encourage citizens to resort to self-help.
“Unfortunately, by refusing to bring these APC thugs to justice, the security forces are inviting Nigerians to take the law into their own hands,” it said.
The group recalled Peter Obi’s repeated warnings against Nigeria sliding into anarchy, saying the reported incidents made those concerns increasingly urgent.
It also criticised Tinubu’s response to political violence, contrasting Obi’s appeals for restraint with a remark it attributed to the President that all was fair in politics.
While urging its members to remain vigilant and act within the law, the movement insisted that political differences must not expose Nigerians to violence or deprive them of their constitutional rights.
“The APC must understand that Nigeria is not its private property. No party has the right to threaten citizens into submission, and no security agency has the right to look away while Nigerians are attacked,” it said.
