…Obi, Tanko back grassroots participation, voter mobilisation
By Juliet Umeh
A civil society group, the Big Tent Coalition, has unveiled “ObidientConnect,” a civic-tech platform aimed at organising, mobilising and empowering Nigerians at home and in the diaspora ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Founder of the coalition, Prof. Pat Utomi, who spoke at the unveiling, described the platform as a bridge between citizen engagement and the task of strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
He said: “The initiative comes at a time of growing concerns over democratic setbacks, insecurity, poverty and institutional challenges, as well as lessons from the 2023 elections.
“Expression alone is not power; organisation is power. ObidientConnect answers the question of how to organise the hope of millions into structured civic power at every ward, every polling unit and across diaspora communities.”
According to him, “the platform is designed to enable Nigerians connect by polling unit within the country and by country cells in the diaspora, while also supporting voter education, mobilisation, training and lawful civic engagement.”
He further stated that “it will also provide a structure for vote protection through polling unit reporting and verification.”
On electoral integrity, he said, “the will of the Nigerian people must never again be stolen in the dark,” noting that the platform will allow citizens across the country’s 176,864 polling units to transmit certified results to a central dashboard in real time to enhance transparency and citizen oversight.
On funding, Utomi disclosed that the coalition has entered into a partnership with Naija We Can to facilitate secure and transparent donations from Nigerians at home and abroad.
He said, “the partnership would ensure accountability and proper governance of funds to support civic education, grassroots organising and democratic advocacy.
“Naija We Can brings credibility and accountability to the process. It ensures that every contribution is properly managed to strengthen citizen participation.
“Diaspora contributions will be used for lawful activities such as media and advocacy, grassroots organising and vote protection. This sets a new ethical standard for political engagement,” he added.
He also announced Charles Odibo as coordinator of the platform, citing his experience and role in its development.
He called on Nigerians to take ownership of the democratic process.
“Nigeria will not change by accident; it will change because citizens decide to own the future,” he said.
Also speaking virtually, former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, urged Nigerians to move beyond passive support to active participation.
“If we truly want a new Nigeria, we must do it not just by our voices, but by our actions and our votes,” Obi said.
He encouraged citizens who are yet to engage in structured mobilisation to begin organising at all levels, stressing that sustained civic participation is critical to achieving meaningful change.
In his remarks, a key figure in the Obidient movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the movement represents a broad coalition of Nigerians united by a shared desire for change, cutting across age groups, professions and social classes.
“There is an Obidient in every segment of society, as long as there is a desire for a better Nigeria,” Tanko said.
He noted that the movement seeks to build a country that protects its global image, promotes equity, creates jobs for young people and establishes a system capable of driving sustainable progress.
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