By Adegboyega Adeleye
The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Obidient Movement has lamented an estimated N20m loss following the rescheduling of its planned two million-man march in support of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, (NDC) Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Uyo.
The march was scheduled to coincide with the Independence Day celebration in the state.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, had directed all political parties, groups and associations to reschedule rallies, meetings, processions and other political activities earlier approved for October 1, citing security concerns.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Timfon John, and made available to journalists in Uyo on Wednesday, said the directive followed intelligence indicating that some individuals might exploit scheduled political activities to cause disturbances and threaten public peace.
The statement read 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, 1st October 2026, anywhere within Akwa Ibom State are hereby directed to be rescheduled.”
However, addressing a press conference in Uyo on Thursday, the State Director of the Obidient Movement, Benjamin Smith, expressed disappointment over the directive, accusing the police of frustrating the planned two million-man march for Obi and Kwankwaso.
Smith said the decision was an afterthought, claiming that the same police commissioner had earlier granted approval for the march to hold in Uyo.
He also disclosed that the Obidient Movement had spent more than N20m mobilising supporters across the 31 local government areas of the state and questioned the timing of the police directive.
Smith added that the party had honoured an invitation from the police on September 29, alongside members of the planning committee for the proposed Akwa Ibom Two Million-Man Solidarity March for Obi-Kwankwaso 2027.
He said those invited included the state party chairman, the director of media for the march and 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 2 million people marching on the streets of Uyo on 1st October, as the said date has already been approved for the PDP to hold its own rally, scheduled to take place from 1st to 3rd October.
“He cited security concerns and possible clashes between the two political parties,” Smith disclosed.
Smith, who was accompanied by officials of the Obidient Movement and NDC chieftains, estimated the financial loss from the rescheduling of the march at N20m.
He insisted that the movement and the NDC would not accept further cancellation of the event in the future.
“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 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 said.
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