Police Halt Obi/Kwankwaso Rally in Akwa Ibom, Opposition Alleges Political Motive

A planned two-million-man solidarity march in support of a joint Obi/Kwankwaso 2027 presidential ticket was abruptly cancelled in Akwa Ibom State, triggering angry reactions from opposition political parties. The march, organised by the OBIdient Movement, the Kwankwasia group, and other opposition forces including the state chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), was to begin at the Nwaniba water fountain in Uyo and proceed to other parts of the capital. Supporters had been mobilised across all 31 local government areas for the event, which was intended to mark Nigeria's 66th Independence Day.

However, the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, ordered the immediate cancellation of the march, a decision the organisers allege was politically motivated. In a statement, Azare directed all political parties to halt any rally or street procession on Independence Day in the state, citing insufficient manpower to control such a crowd. He said the command had received credible intelligence that some individuals planned to exploit scheduled political activities to cause disturbances and threaten public peace. Consequently, all approvals previously granted for political rallies, meetings, processions, and other related public political activities slated for Thursday, 1st October 2026, anywhere in Akwa Ibom State were directed to be rescheduled.

Reacting to the order, the State Director of the Obedient Movement, Dr Benjamin Smith, expressed deep frustration and accused the police of sabotaging the planned march even after N20 million had been spent on securing vehicles and mobilising supporters across the 31 local government areas. He described the cancellation as an afterthought, noting that the same police commissioner had earlier granted their request to hold the march.

Smith recounted that a meeting was held on 29th September 2026 with CP Baba Mohammed Azare at the Police Force State Headquarters in Uyo. The commissioner and his team, including DCP Simi Ibrahim of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), DCP Preye Raymond Egbetokun (DC, Finance and Administration), and the DC Operations, invited members of the planning committee for the proposed Akwa Ibom Two Million-Man Solidarity March for Obi-Kwankwaso 2027, scheduled for 1st October 2026. Those invited included the state party chairman, the director of media for the march, and the head of security for the event. According to Smith, the commissioner informed them that he and his men would not have enough personnel to provide security for two million people marching on the streets of Uyo on 1st October, as that date had already been approved for the PDP to hold its own rally from 1st to 3rd October. The CP cited security concerns and possible clashes between the two political parties.

Smith, who was accompanied by officers of the Obedient Movement and NDC chieftains, estimated the loss from the cancellation at N20 million and insisted that the movement and NDC coalition would not accept further cancellations in the future. He encouraged supporters to remain law-abiding, saying another 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 of freedom of Assembly," Smith said. "We want everybody to know this and we would resist it next time the rally would be 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 All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the botched demonstration, reminding them that they were once an opposition party but were given a level playing field to campaign and won elections in the past. "We know that this is the handiwork of APC in Akwa Ibom. We want everybody in this country to know that APC was an opposition party. It was the law of Nigeria that guaranteed them the right to campaign and won elections. And it is the same laws that is available today that also guarantee other political parties the freedom to campaign and win election," he recalled.

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