The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said no Nigerian should be punished for demanding good governance as he commemorated the sixth anniversary of the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate incident.

Obi made this statement in a post on X on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, calling for a country where citizens can demand better governance without fear of punishment.

“Nigeria must become a nation where no citizen is punished for demanding good governance and a better future,” he said.

Obi described the anniversary as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Nigerian youths in their quest for a better country.

“Today, October 20, 2026, marks the sixth anniversary of the Lekki Toll Gate shootings, a painful reminder of the price Nigerian youths paid in their demand for a better country,” he stated.

Recalling the events of October 20, 2020, the former Anambra State governor said peaceful #EndSARS protesters were met with gunfire, leaving some dead and others injured.

He added that the incident raised questions about justice, accountability and the value placed on human life.

“On that fateful night, peaceful #EndSARS protesters were met with gunfire. Lives were lost, many were injured, and the nation was left with questions about justice, accountability, and the sanctity of human life,” Obi said.

He urged Nigerians not to forget the victims or allow injustice to become normalised.

“We must never forget. We must never normalise injustice,” he added.

Obi also reaffirmed his vision of a “New Nigeria,” describing it as a country where citizens are protected, young people are heard, and those in government exercise power responsibly while respecting human rights.

“As we remember the victims, I reaffirm my belief that a New Nigeria is possible, a country where citizens are protected, not brutalised; where young people are heard, not silenced; and where government power is exercised with responsibility and respect for human rights,” he said.

He further maintained that the victims' sacrifices should strengthen efforts to prevent a recurrence of the incident, while offering prayers for those who lost their lives.

“May the souls of the departed continue to rest in peace. May their sacrifice strengthen our resolve to build a Nigeria where this tragedy will never be repeated,” he stated.

Obi concluded by reiterating his vision of a country where every life matters.

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, in its 2021 report, found that Nigerian Army personnel shot, injured and killed unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate. The panel also described the manner of the assault and killings as constituting a massacre in context.

According to Vanguard, the panel identified at least 48 protesters who were shot, injured or assaulted during the incident.