Obidients Insist on INEC Chairman’s Resignation, Roll Out Nationwide Protest Plans

Due to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision regarding the African Democratic Congress’s (ADC) leadership issue, the Obidient Movement has called for Joash Amupitan, the commission’s chairman, to quit.

The group bemoaned the recent occurrence as a danger to Nigeria’s democracy and called for a national demonstration in a statement.

Nigerians were cautioned by the movement that keeping quiet during this time is risky and demonstrates complicity.

There are times in a country’s history when indifference turns into complicity and silence becomes hazardous. Nigeria has reached this point,” the statement said.

The movement claimed that under the current leadership, INEC is no longer seen as unbiased.

It said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which ought to be an unbiased protector of the people’s will, is increasingly seen as compromised under the current administration.”

It also warned of possible dangers to Nigeria’s multi-party system, stating that opposition voices seem to be under increasing pressure.

The people’s will is jeopardized when institutions lose their credibility. And citizens have an obligation to take action when that occurs,” the group stated.

The Obidient Movement’s main demands included the INEC chairman’s resignation due to “gross abuse of office, loss of public trust, and failure to uphold the neutrality required of that office.”

In addition, the group called for the preservation of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and “an immediate end to political persecution, including all forms of intimidation, harassment, and targeting of opposition voices.”

Additionally, it demanded “complete respect for party autonomy, guaranteeing that the integrity and internal leadership of political parties, including ADC, are not interfered with.”

The campaign declared its intention to start a statewide demonstration in every state and the Federal Capital Territory under the hashtag #OccupyINEC.

The statement read, “We are starting a nationwide peaceful protest in defense of these principles, starting immediately across all states and the Federal Capital Territory.”