***Launches ‘GO MERD’ Drive to Stop 2027 Rigging
**Vows to Mobilise Millions, Deploy One Million Vote Defenders Nationwide
The Obidient Movement has raised fresh concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, warning that there are “alleged positions” suggesting the polls might not even hold.
n response, the movement has rolled out its most ambitious mobilisation drive yet, a nationwide operation to register millions of new voters, form disciplined voting blocs, and make election rigging “difficult, unattractive, and dangerous.”
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, National Coordinator of the movement, Tanko Yunusa, said the initiative, tagged “A New Nigeria is Possible – Get Your PVC & GO MERD”, is designed to put power back in the hands of ordinary Nigerians. GO MERD stands for Get Organised – Make Election Rigging Difficult.
“Our mission is simple: in every polling unit across Nigeria, every Obidient will lead or join a bloc of at least 100 Nigerians, each with a Permanent Voter’s Card,” Yunusa declared. “We will ensure 100% PVC ownership in every bloc, go door-to-door to register voters, and recruit 1,500 values-driven leaders to contest elections under the Obidient platform.”
The campaign’s first target is the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which begins August 18. Yunusa urged Nigerians “Obidients and non-Obidients alike” to register, stressing that voter registration is the foundation of political power.
“In doing so, we are even helping INEC to advocate for voter registration,” he said.
To prevent a repeat of 2023, when the movement could not cover all 176,000 polling units, the Obidient Movement is introducing a “Vote Defender” network — one million trained, capable individuals, many of them party agents, to guard the vote from cast to collation. “We will use technology, real-time reporting, and proactive resistance to block rigging attempts,” Yunusa promised.
Painting a vision of a New Nigeria, he spoke of a country where food is affordable, healthcare works, schools prepare youth for the future, rural communities are linked to markets, women enjoy equal opportunities, businesses thrive without harassment, and the diaspora can return home with pride.
“This is not just about the 2027 elections, it’s about taking our destiny into our own hands,” he said. “Our youth and citizens are not just leaders of tomorrow; they are confronting today’s challenges head-on. The 2027 elections are our turning point.”
Yunusa reaffirmed the movement’s ties with the Labour Party, calling it the political platform through which the Obidients contested in 2023. He commended the volunteer spirit of the movement, noting that even the July 19 celebrations for Peter Obi were organised without a single naira from the former presidential candidate.
The call to action is clear: secure your PVC, join or form a voting bloc at Obidients.com, volunteer as a vote defender, and get involved in rallies, town halls, and community outreach.
“We are done watching from the sidelines,” Yunusa concluded. “The tools are here, now it’s time for Nigerians to turn them into victory.”