The Obidient Movement has warned that its supporters and other Nigerians will resist attacks during the 2027 election campaign, threatening to respond to alleged political violence with “equal or double measure.”

The warning followed the reported attack on members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and other Nigerians during the One Million Man March in Warri, Delta State, on Friday.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, the movement accused the All Progressives Congress of sponsoring political thugs to attack opposition supporters.

The APC has not been quoted as responding to the latest allegation.

The group declared that its supporters would no longer remain passive in the face of political violence, insisting that Nigerians had a constitutional right to campaign, assemble and support candidates of their choice.

“We are peaceful, but we are not helpless. We will not initiate violence, but neither will we surrender our people to intimidation,” the statement said.

The movement added, “Henceforth, every violent act by the APC and its thugs against Nigerians will be returned in equal or double measure.”

It warned political actors against assuming that opposition supporters would simply withdraw from campaign activities whenever violence occurred.

“Let the APC and its political thugs be warned: Nigeria does not belong to you. It belongs to all of us,” the group stated.

The movement linked Friday’s incident in Warri to what it described as a wider pattern of political violence in Delta State and other parts of the country.

It recalled an earlier allegation by the NDC candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, that armed men attacked his convoy in Delta State, allegedly injuring six NDC members.

The APC had denied involvement in that incident.

The Obidient Movement also cited the reported September 12 attack on an NDC ward meeting and voter-sensitisation programme at Ihuani Awkunanaw, Obuofia, in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

According to the group, eight people were shot during the attack.

It alleged that the incidents reflected a dangerous escalation of political violence ahead of the 2027 elections and accused security agencies of either providing cover for political thugs or failing to stop them.

The group also criticised what it described as threats allegedly issued by some political office holders against voters who might not support their preferred candidates.

It called on security agencies to protect Nigerians exercising their democratic rights and ensure that political campaigns were conducted without intimidation.

The movement said it would use “lawful resistance, mass mobilisation and even self-defence” to protect its supporters, citing provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

It nevertheless acknowledged the danger of escalating political violence, warning that reciprocal violence could lead to anarchy.

The Obidient Movement insisted that no political party had the authority to determine where Nigerians could campaign, gather or whom they could support.

It said the 2027 election should be settled at the ballot box rather than through intimidation or violence on the streets.

“The 2027 election must be decided by Nigerians at the ballot box, not by political thugs on the streets,” it said.