Obidient Movement alleges INEC plot to block Peter Obi's 2027 bid
The Obidient Movement has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of conspiring to deny Peter Obi a presidential platform for the 2027 election. According to the movement's National Coordinator Yunusa Tanko—who made the allegations in a statement to journalists on April 6, 2026—the recent delisting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by INEC is part of a coordinated strategy that began after the 2023 general election.
Tanko claims the alleged plot involved deliberately creating crises within Obi's former party, the Labour Party, and using government infiltrators to prevent Obi from securing a stable political base. He alleges that legislative changes to the Electoral Act were pursued specifically to pressure the ADC after Obi aligned with the party.
Key events cited include Obi's March 22, 2026 meeting with former Kano Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso—where he reportedly received warm reception from Kwankwasiyya members—and the ADC's massive rally in Kano on March 30, 2026, where Kwankwaso officially joined the party. Tanko asserts that 'the government manipulated INEC to reinterpret an Appeal Court ruling' leading to the delisting of ADC's leadership.
The allegations, if true, could significantly impact Nigeria's democratic process by potentially barring a major opposition candidate from contesting in 2027. INEC has not responded to these claims as of this report.
With the election cycle approaching, voters should monitor INEC's party registration decisions and verify information from multiple credible sources. What safeguards do you believe are necessary to protect electoral integrity and ensure fair competition?