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Suspected thugs allegedly disrupted a campaign rally involving supporters of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Warri, Delta State.
Esther Umoh, identified as a photographer associated with Obi, raised the alarm in a post on X, alleging that politically sponsored thugs attacked members of the campaign group.
Umoh claimed the attackers targeted members of the entourage of the Delta State governorship candidate, as well as supporters of the Obidient and Kwankwasiya movements who were campaigning in the area.
“As of this morning, politically sponsored thugs reportedly opened fire on @MamaPee__, @Drmopaul, @dchrisiyovwaye, the Delta State governorship candidate, members of his entourage, and other Obidient and Kwankwasiya supporters who were out campaigning in Warri,” she wrote.
A video circulated alongside the claims showed a chaotic scene, with a voice heard saying, “Look at the thugs, they came to attack us. We must face them. We are fully ready for them.”
The allegation comes amid increased political mobilisation by Obi and Kwankwaso supporters ahead of the 2027 elections.
Obi and Kwankwaso are being mobilised under the NDC ticket, while the wider support structure includes members of the Obidient and Kwankwasiya movements.
The Obi-Kwankwaso support movement recently unveiled a 59-member presidential campaign council comprising coordinators and directors from across the country.
The council is expected to coordinate mobilisation and campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Its structure includes zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors overseeing mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs, administration and other key areas.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, was named Director-General of the campaign, while its National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, was also included in the campaign leadership.
The council comprises representatives from the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside coordinators for the 36 states.
In a message to the newly appointed members, Sani described their selection as a call to duty and urged them to take the movement’s message to communities across the country.
She charged them to approach the assignment with discipline, loyalty, humility and commitment, saying the campaign would require strategic planning, effective communication and grassroots mobilisation.
Among those appointed as zonal coordinators are Suleiman Abubakar for North-Central; Hashimu Dungurawa, North-West; Amadu Gwambe, North-East; Dr Adebayo Adefolaseye, South-West; Christopher Ighodaro, South-South; and El-Shaddai Ikeh, South-East.
Other appointees include Rev. Mike Agbon, Director of Inter-Ethnic Group in Northern Nigeria; Sabo Gashua, Grassroots Mobilisation; Glory Adayi, Women Affairs; Kabir Yahaya, Contact and Engagement; Abdumumini Tijjani, Mobilisation; and Yusuf Mani, Special Duties.
Peace Daful was named Director of Procurement; Prof. Charles Nwekeaku, South Eastern Town Hall; Sunmisola Adebayo, Information Technology; Kingdom Okere, Legal Affairs; Abiodun Dabiri, Strategy and Planning; Richard Enemona, CSP (Rtd.), Security and Intelligence; and Aisha Abdulrahaman, Administration.
The movement said its immediate responsibility was to ensure that the message of its principals reached voters across the country.
Last month, the OK Movement reaffirmed its decision to maintain an independent structure rather than merge with another political organisation ahead of the 2027 elections, while backing Ughulu as its founder and Director-General.
The unveiling also followed the movement’s condemnation of the reported disruption of Obi’s convoy during his visit to Benue State. It called for an impartial investigation into the incident, saying its security personnel exercised restraint to prevent an escalation.
