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The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed anger over the cancellation of a two million-man march by the Obidient Movement by the state police command scheduled for the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his deputy, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Uyo metropolis to coincide with the nation’s Independence Day celebration in the state.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, had issued a press statement warning all political parties to stop any rally or street march on Independence Day in the state, citing insufficient manpower to control such a crowd.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Timfon John, and made available to journalists in Uyo warned political parties, groups or associations to halt any planned procession in the city during the Independence Day festivities.
The statement reads in part: “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command wishes to inform all political parties, political groups, associations and other concerned stakeholders that, 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, 1 October 2026, anywhere within Akwa Ibom State are hereby directed to be rescheduled.”
Addressing a press conference in Uyo, the state director of the Obidient Movement, Dr Benjamin Smith, expressed deep annoyance, accusing the police of frustrating the planned two million-man march for Obi/Kwankwaso in the state.
Reacting to the police order, Smith said it was an afterthought, even though the same police commissioner had granted their request to hold the two million-man march in Uyo city.
Smith said the Obidient Movement had spent over N20m to mobilise its supporters across the 31 local government areas of the state and wondered why the police woke up and cancelled the event without considering the cost implications for the organisers.
“Following a meeting held on 29 September 2026 with CP Baba Mohammed Azare, Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, at the Police Force State Headquarters in Uyo,”
“The commissioner and his team, which included DCP Simi Ibrahim, DC, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), DCP Preye Raymond Egbetokun, DC, Finance and Administration, and DC, Operations, invited members of the planning committee for the proposed Akwa Ibom two million-man solidarity march for Obi-Kwankwaso 2027, scheduled to hold on 1 October 2026,”
“Those invited included the state party chairman, the director of media for the march, as well as the head of security for the event.”
“The commissioner, CP Azare, informed the party and the support groups planning the event that he and his men of the Nigeria Police Force would not have enough personnel to provide security for two million people marching on the streets of Uyo on 1 October, as the said date had already been approved for the PDP to hold its own rally, scheduled to take place from 1 to 3 October,”
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“He cited security concerns and possible clashes between the two political parties.”
Smith, who was accompanied by officers of the Obidient Movement and NDC chieftains, estimated the loss from the cancellation of the two million-man march at about N20m and insisted that the movement and the NDC would not accept further cancellations in future.
He encouraged supporters to be law-abiding, adding that a new date for the programme would be communicated to them.
“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 to freedom of assembly,”
“We want everybody to know this and we would resist it next time the rally is scheduled. We also want everybody to know that without the constitution of Nigeria and laws, we are just a banana republic,”
He accused the ruling APC of being responsible for the postponement and reminded them that it was once an opposition party but was given a level playing field to campaign and won the election in the past.
“We know that this is the handiwork of the APC in Akwa Ibom,”
“We want everybody in this country to know that the APC was an opposition party,”
“It was the law of Nigeria that guaranteed them the right to campaign and win elections,”
“And it is the same laws that are available today that also guarantee other political parties the freedom to campaign and win elections.”
