Obidient Movement accuses APC of political thuggery, warns against violence

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Obidient Movement, a political group aligned with the leadership aspirations of Peter Obi, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of political thuggery and warned against further attacks on opposition supporters.

The group made the allegation in a statement issued on Saturday, September 19, 2026, and signed by its Media and Communications Directorate under the title, “APC Must End Its Political Thuggery or Nigerians Will End It for Them.”

The Obidient Movement condemned what it described as attacks on members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and other Nigerians during a reported One Million-Man March in Warri, Delta State, on September 18.

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The group alleged that APC-sponsored thugs disrupted the political procession and linked the incident to broader concerns over political violence in the country.

The allegations come amid reports of a confrontation during an NDC mobilisation march in Warri and Effurun, where the NDC campaign council called for an investigation. The Delta State Government has also directed security agencies to investigate the incident and prosecute anyone found culpable.

The Obidient Movement also referred to an earlier incident involving the convoy of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and reported attacks on NDC members during a political gathering in Enugu State.

On the Enugu incident, the state police command confirmed that armed hoodlums disrupted an NDC meeting in Nkanu West Local Government Area on September 12 and said two attendees were injured. The NDC subsequently said eight of its members sustained gunshot injuries. Police ordered an investigation into the incident.

The Obidient Movement accused the APC leadership of encouraging political violence and questioned the ability of security agencies to protect opposition supporters and political gatherings.

It warned that Nigerians would not accept intimidation or the denial of their democratic rights, while stressing that political differences should be settled through lawful democratic processes.

However, the group also used strong language in warning that continued attacks could provoke resistance.

“If the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order have decided to become partisan and shield political thugs perpetrating violence, it is important to emphasise that nobody has a monopoly of violence, and Nigerians will now return violence for violence whenever the need arises,” the statement said.

The group added that such a development could lead to anarchy, while warning political actors against using thugs to prevent opposition parties from campaigning or holding meetings.

“No political party has the right to determine who can campaign, where Nigerians can gather or who they can support,” it said.

The movement said it remained committed to peaceful political participation but added that it would not surrender its supporters to intimidation.

“We are peaceful, but we are not helpless. We will not initiate violence, but neither will we surrender our people to intimidation,” the statement said.

The group called on the APC and other political actors to allow Nigerians to freely participate in political activities, adding that the 2027 election should be decided by voters at the ballot box rather than by violence or intimidation.

“The 2027 election must be decided by Nigerians at the ballot box, not by political thugs on the streets,” it said.