Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation magazine and a prominent ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has raised fresh concerns over what he described as increasing hostility from supporters of the Obidient movement ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
In a post shared on social media, Momodu lamented the rising attacks against political figures and urged caution in political engagement. He suggested that some individuals identifying as Obidients may be involved in bullying narratives directed at Atiku Abubakar, although he expressed hope that such actions were not representative of the broader movement.
Momodu's Statement on Alleged Harassment
Momodu wrote: “It is extremely sad that a man who gave PETER OBI his first Vice Presidential ticket is being bullied in this manner. I wish to believe this is the handiwork of fake OBIDIENTS and agent provocateur.”
The comments followed a wave of online exchanges involving supporters of Atiku and those aligned with the Obidient movement, with accusations and counter-accusations dominating discussions on social media platform X.
Reactions from Commentators
Another commentator, Emma Ik Umeh, also weighed in on the debate, expressing concern over the tone of political discourse. “It has gotten to the point that Obidients are now wishing death on Atiku, because he is exercising his right to contest,” he wrote. “I won’t tell you guys to stop ooh, continue.. You will see who will cry.”
Nigerians React to Allegations
The remarks triggered strong reactions from social media users, many of whom dismissed the claims and accused political actors of spreading misinformation to discredit the Obidient movement. One user, TheVanGodson, argued that it was unfair to generalise behaviour, saying criticism should be directed at individuals rather than entire groups. Others insisted that no credible evidence had been presented to support claims that Obidients had made threats against Atiku, urging political actors to focus on issue-based campaigns instead.
The exchange highlights growing political tensions as alignments and rivalries begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 elections, with online spaces increasingly becoming a battleground for political narratives.
