An Independence Day 5-kilometre run in Warri, Delta State, descended into chaos on Thursday after youths who had gathered for the fitness event rejected branded polo shirts distributed by organisers, tearing and burning them after discovering President Bola Tinubu's image concealed within the design.

Tension built up at PTI Junction, where participants had assembled for the run, as organisers, identified as Soft Nigeria, a support group associated with President Tinubu, began handing out green "Soft Nigeria" polo shirts bearing the President's image.

Many of the youths, who said they had expected a free, non-political fitness event, felt deceived once they noticed the branding.

Videos circulating widely on social media captured the backlash, with participants heard repeatedly shouting "We no go wear" as they stripped off and tore the shirts.

Other clips showed shirts being set on fire, while sections of the crowd chanted "Obi, Obi, Obi" in reference to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi. Some participants reportedly threatened to boycott the run entirely in protest.

The incident has sparked reactions online, with many framing it as young people pushing back against what they saw as an attempt to turn a national Independence Day activity into a political mobilisation exercise for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

As of the time of reporting, organisers had not issued a public response addressing the incident.

The Warri protest was one of several reported flashpoints around Nigeria's 66th Independence Day celebrations, with similar accusations of political messaging also surfacing around an event at the Monoliza Sports Centre in Abuja the same evening.

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