The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Obidient Movement has condemned the police cancellation of its planned two million-man solidarity march for NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso, stating that the last-minute directive resulted in losses exceeding N20 million. The march, scheduled for October 1, 2026, in Uyo, was called off hours before it was due to begin following a directive from the state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare.
Police Cite Security Intelligence for Cancellation
CP Baba Azare issued a directive ordering all political parties, groups, and associations to reschedule activities earlier approved for Independence Day, citing credible intelligence suggesting that certain individuals planned to exploit the gatherings to cause civil unrest. The directive was confirmed by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Timfon John in a statement made available to journalists in Uyo on Wednesday, September 30.
The statement read in part: "Following credible intelligence available to the Command indicating plans by some individuals to exploit scheduled political activities to cause disturbances and threaten public peace, and in the overriding interest of public safety and security, all approvals earlier granted for political rallies, meetings, processions and other related public political activities scheduled to hold on Thursday, 1st October 2026, anywhere within Akwa Ibom State are hereby directed to be rescheduled."
Movement Accuses Police of Violating Constitution
Speaking at a press conference in Uyo on Thursday, State Director of the Obidient Movement, Benjamin Smith, said the directive amounted to an afterthought, arguing that the same commissioner had previously granted approval for the march to proceed. Smith said the movement had spent more than N20 million mobilising supporters across all 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State before the cancellation was announced.
Smith said the movement had honoured a police invitation on September 29, attended by the state party chairman, the director of media for the march, and the head of event security. He said CP Azare told them during that meeting that the Nigeria Police Force did not have enough personnel to secure two million people on the streets of Uyo, particularly because the PDP had already received approval to hold its own rally from October 1 to 3, raising fears of clashes between supporters of both parties.
Movement Vows to Resist Future Cancellations
Smith, who was flanked by Obidient Movement officials and NDC chieftains, insisted the group would not accept any further cancellation of the event. He urged supporters to remain law-abiding while promising that a new date would be announced in due course.
"We want Nigerians to know that the police have violated the Police Act. It is a violation of the Nigerian Constitution that gives the people the right of freedom of assembly. We also want everybody to know that without the Constitution of Nigeria and laws, we are just a banana republic," Smith said.
Previously, Legit.ng reported that Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, at his palace in Sokoto state ahead of a series of town-hall engagements in the region. Obi was accompanied by his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other members of their team.
