By Stephen Simon
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has stopped a planned two-million-man solidarity march by supporters of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Uyo, citing security concerns.
The march, organised by the Obidient Movement and supported by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, was scheduled for Independence Day, October 1, as part of activities planned to mobilise supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections. The police subsequently directed political parties, groups and associations to reschedule rallies, meetings, processions and other political activities earlier approved for the day.
The command said the decision followed intelligence indicating that some individuals could exploit political gatherings to cause disturbances and threaten public peace. It also cited concerns over the ability of security personnel to adequately protect a gathering of the size proposed by the organisers and the possibility of clashes involving competing political groups.
The directive triggered complaints from the organisers. The Akwa Ibom State Director of the Obidient Movement, Dr Benjamin Smith, said the movement had spent more than N20 million mobilising supporters across the state’s 31 local government areas. He said organisers had met with Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare on September 29, when security concerns about the march were discussed.
Smith said the police had raised concerns that they lacked sufficient personnel to secure such a large gathering, particularly as the Peoples Democratic Party had also been scheduled to hold political activities in the state between October 1 and 3. The organisers maintained that their planned procession was intended to be peaceful and accused the police of raising the security concerns after preparations had substantially been completed.
The controversy deepened on Independence Day when the police reportedly arrested Elijah Noah, the Akwa Ibom coordinator of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, after supporters gathered in Uyo despite the directive. Reports also emerged that tear gas was used to disperse some supporters, although the allegation was made by Peter Obi’s media aide and was not independently confirmed in the reports reviewed.
The development has renewed discussion about the balance between public security and the right to peaceful assembly as political mobilisation intensifies ahead of the 2027 elections. The police have maintained that the directive was based on security considerations and was not targeted at any political group, while the organisers have called for a new date for their march and urged supporters to remain law-abiding.
