Obidient Movement Threatens Nationwide Protests Over Coordinators’ Arrest

The Obidient Movement has threatened to mobilise its members for nationwide protests if the authorities fail to release its Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, Dr Ben Smith, and the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement coordinator in the state, Elijah Noah.

The threat followed the arrest of the two political coordinators amid a confrontation between security operatives and supporters of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso during a planned march in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday.

According to the movement, the arrests were unacceptable and accused the police of using state power to suppress peaceful political expression.

It made its position known in a statement signed by its Media and Communications Directorate and published on its official X account.

According to the movement, Smith, Noah and other members were arrested while participating in or supporting a peaceful political procession.

The group said the arrests amounted to an attack on the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and express their political views.

It demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained coordinators and other members who may still be in custody.

The movement also warned that continued detention or harassment of its members could lead to wider protests across the country.

It said, “The Obidient Movement strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Ben Smith, the State Coordinator of the OK Movement, Mr Elijah Noah @ElijahNoah8, and other members of the Obidient Movement by the Nigeria Police @PoliceNG during a peaceful march yesterday.”

The group argued that identifying with the Obidient Movement could not, by itself, constitute an offence.

It added, “Their simple offence was identifying as Obidients, a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.”

The statement accused the police of intimidation and harassment and alleged that the action was politically motivated.

The movement further called on the Akwa Ibom State Police Command to release those arrested and stop what it described as intimidation of opposition supporters.

It said, “We hold the APC and the Akwa Ibom State Police Command responsible for this needless provocation and demand the immediate and unconditional release of both state coordinators and all our members in custody, alongside an end to all forms of intimidation and harassment against members of the Obidient Movement and other opposition groups.”

The development came after the Akwa Ibom State Police Command directed political parties, groups and associations to suspend and reschedule rallies, meetings and processions planned for October 1.

The command said the decision was based on security intelligence and concerns that political gatherings could be exploited to cause disturbances or threaten public peace.

According to the police account, the OK Movement had requested approval for a two-million-man march in Uyo on October 1.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, said the command later held discussions with the organisers and advised them to choose another date because of concerns over possible clashes with other political activities scheduled for the same period.

The commissioner said the organisers had agreed to reschedule the march but later proceeded with the procession.

He said those who went ahead with the march were arrested for investigation and that those found to have violated the directive could be prosecuted.

The police also rejected reports that firearms were discharged during the operation.

The command’s spokesperson, Timfon John, said, “No shooting incident was recorded in connection with the incident,” adding that “Police officers discharged no firearm during the operation.”

Noah was arrested during the disruption of the march.

Smith was later reportedly arrested after going with other supporters to the police station in an attempt to facilitate the release of Noah and other detained members.

The reported arrest of Smith added another layer to the disagreement between the movement and the police over the aborted march.

Before the arrests, Smith had raised concerns over the cancellation of the planned procession.

He claimed that organisers had spent more than N20 million on mobilisation, branding and logistics across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

The planned march was organised by supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections. Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while Kwankwaso is his running mate.

The Obidient Movement, however, has maintained that the political activities were intended to be peaceful.

In its latest statement, the group said the arrests should not be allowed to become a means of discouraging citizens from participating in political activities.

It warned that continued action against its members could trigger protests beyond Akwa Ibom.

The movement said, “The Obidient Movement will not stand by and watch the fundamental rights of its members trampled upon with impunity. If the authorities continue to ignore our demands and use the police to intimidate peaceful citizens, we will have no choice but to mobilise our members and supporters for wider protests around the country.”

It also urged the authorities to act quickly to prevent the situation from escalating.

The group said, “Let nobody mistake our commitment to peace for weakness or our restraint for surrender. We have every constitutional right to demand what is right, to protest injustice and to hold those in power accountable.”

Moreover, the controversy has also attracted the attention of Peter Obi, who condemned the arrests and said Nigeria’s Independence would mean little if citizens could not express themselves within the law.

Obi said reports that citizens were arrested because of their political affiliation should concern Nigerians who value democratic rights.

The former Anambra State governor called for a political environment where citizens can hold different views without fear.