Nigeria: #OccupyINEC - Obedient Movement Calls Nationwide Protest, Demands INEC Chairman's Resignation

The Obedient Movement has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest tagged #OccupyINEC, citing growing concerns over the state of Nigeria's democracy and the credibility of electoral institutions.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Coordinator of the movement, Tanko Yunusa, said the country had reached a critical point where "silence becomes dangerous and inaction becomes complicity."

He expressed worries over what he described as a declining public confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the electoral umpire is increasingly perceived as compromised under the current administration.

According to Yunusa, the situation poses a threat to Nigeria's democratic foundations and the survival of its multi-party system.

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"The foundations of our democracy are being tested. When institutions lose credibility, the will of the people is endangered. And when that happens, citizens have a duty to act," he stated.

The group outlined a number of demands, including the resignation of the INEC Chairman over alleged abuse of office and loss of public trust. It also called for an end to what it described as political persecution and intimidation of opposition voices.

The movement further urged authorities to protect Nigeria's multi-party democracy and respect the autonomy of political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning against interference in their internal affairs.

As part of its planned action, the group said the protest would take place across all states and the Federal Capital Territory, with participants in Abuja expected to converge at the ADC National office before marching to the INEC Headquarters on a date to be announced.

Yunusa emphasized that the protest would be peaceful and lawful, describing it as a civic duty aimed at safeguarding the country's democratic future.

"This moment goes beyond party lines. It is about the survival of democratic values and the protection of the Nigerian state itself," he added.

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