The Obidient Movement has reaffirmed plans for a nationwide protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission, dubbed #OccupyINEC, despite rising political tensions. National Coordinator Yunusa Tanko stated the demonstration would proceed as planned, though he declined to disclose the date, citing fears of harassment and intimidation. "No, we cannot reveal the date now. We also know they are planning for us," Tanko said in an interview with The PUNCH, adding that INEC had become "the arbiter, judge, accuser and defender at the same time." He accused the commission of fuelling disaffection within the opposition and said Nigerians were angry and ready to show it in large numbers during a peaceful rally.
The group's April 2 statement cited growing concerns over INEC's neutrality, particularly after its April 2, 2026 decision to stop accepting correspondence from either faction of the African Democratic Congress led by David Mark or Rafiu Bala. The Obidient Movement demanded the resignation of INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan, citing "gross abuse of office, loss of public trust, and failure to uphold neutrality." It also called for an end to political persecution and respect for party autonomy. Tanko insisted the protest was about defending Nigeria's sovereignty, not individuals, and urged civil society organisations to join. "Everybody should be involved in this matter. If we continue in this line, one day we will not even be able to go to the toilet in this country," he said.
Yunusa Tanko's refusal to name the protest date suggests the Obidient Movement anticipates a heavy-handed response, not just criticism. By framing the #OccupyINEC action as a defence of national sovereignty, the group is shifting the narrative from partisan dissent to civic duty. This positions Prof Joash Amupitan and INEC as central figures in a crisis of institutional trust. For Nigerians, the mobilisation signals growing willingness to challenge electoral authority when perceived as politically weaponised.
