Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu was reportedly met with chants of Peter Obi's name as he campaigned for President Bola Tinubu at a festival in Abia State.

What happened

Kalu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker who represents Bende Federal Constituency, was addressing the Item Okpi Festival, an annual cultural celebration in Bende Local Government Area, on Saturday. According to reports on Thursday, 12 November 2026, the audience responded with loud and sustained chants of Obi's name rather than applause. When a woman on stage began a pro-Obi song, Kalu reportedly asked her to switch to a pro-Tinubu song, but the chanting continued. The Deputy Speaker was said to have remarked in Igbo that the crowd did not seem to want a university the President plans to build for them, and suggested some of those chanting were not from Item.

Background

Abia is governed by Alex Otti of the Labour Party, a former ally of Obi who has said he supports Tinubu as the sitting president while acknowledging that his party has its own candidate. Obi, now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), remains popular in the South-East, where the APC is working hard to win support ahead of the 16 January 2027 election. Kalu has not publicly commented on the video.

The European Union has expressed concern about rising election-related violence, hate speech and political intimidation in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

What the EU said

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders Forum in Abuja, reported on Thursday, 12 November 2026, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, warned that such incidents erode democratic gains and discourage citizens from taking full part in elections. He said free civic and political space allows civil society groups and citizens to monitor how elections are run, track campaign promises and hold leaders to account, and helps prevent authorities from manipulating the rules.

Support for institutions

Mignot said open public debate, independent media, peaceful assembly and an active civil society are vital to credible elections. He said the EU would continue to support Nigerian institutions, including the National Human Rights Commission, to help create a free and fair electoral environment, while stressing that it would not interfere in domestic politics.

Background

The warning follows a string of violent incidents linked to campaigns in several states. Peter Obi's convoy was attacked in Calabar, NDC supporters' vehicles were destroyed at a rally in Delta, and APC supporters were attacked ahead of a rally in Katsina. The Inspector-General of Police has also warned officers against being used by politicians. The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has warned police officers against allowing politicians to use them to undermine the 2027 elections.

What he said

Speaking on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, at a monthly meeting with senior officers in Abuja, Disu said the police would remain neutral and give equal protection to all candidates, parties, supporters and voters. He said he would not tolerate any officer using police authority to advance the interests of a party, candidate or sponsor, and that officers found colluding with politicians, aiding thuggery or interfering with voters' rights would be disciplined. He told officers that the force is not a tool for any politician and urged them not to allow themselves to be used.

Officers to stay at posts

The IGP directed commissioners of police and other senior officers to remain in their commands throughout the electoral process.

Background

The warning comes amid concern over political violence ahead of the elections and a recent controversy over a video showing police officers escorting businessman Blord, which the police said was unlawful. On the same day, the police said they had raided so-called phone farms used to spread election misinformation. The European Union has also raised concerns about violence and hate speech before the polls.

Yunusa Tanko, a former spokesman for Peter Obi and ex-national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, has joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) campaign for the 2027 presidential election.

The new role

At the inauguration of the SDP Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, Tanko was named its national coordinator. In his acceptance speech he thanked the party's leadership and pledged full commitment to its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo. He said he had reached out to both Obi and Senator Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), before taking up the post, and described his relationship with Adebayo as dating back to the 2023 election cycle.

How he left Obi's camp

Tanko was removed as national coordinator of the Obidient Movement in October 2026 and briefly served as Obi's political adviser for Northern Nigeria. He resigned from that role on 30 October, saying he was returning to the National Consultative Front, which he co-chairs with Professor Pat Utomi. He took on that position in October after the death of former House of Representatives Speaker Ghali Na'Abba, who had co-chaired the group.

Background

Obi, the 2023 Labour Party candidate, is now the NDC presidential candidate with Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate. Adebayo was also the SDP's presidential candidate in 2023. The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027. Obi's campaign had not publicly reacted to Tanko's new role at the time of writing.