The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has expressed anger over the cancellation of a planned two-million-man solidarity march organised by the Obidient Movement in support of the party’s 2027 presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The march, which was scheduled to take place in Uyo on Independence Day, October 1, was cancelled by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, which directed political parties, groups and associations to suspend all rallies, processions and related political activities planned for the day.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the command said the decision followed intelligence indicating that some individuals could exploit political activities to cause disturbances and threaten public peace.
“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,” the statement read.
Reacting to the cancellation at a press conference in Uyo on Thursday, the State Director of the Obidient Movement, Dr Benjamin Smith, accused the police of frustrating the planned march, saying the command had earlier approved the event.
Smith described the cancellation as an afterthought, alleging that the movement had already spent more than N20m mobilising supporters from the 31 local government areas of the state for the event.
He said representatives of the movement and members of the planning committee had honoured an invitation from the police on September 29, before the command subsequently announced the cancellation.
According to Smith, the organisers had incurred substantial expenses in preparation for the march and would not accept similar cancellations in the future.
He, however, urged supporters to remain law-abiding, saying a new date for the solidarity march would be communicated.
Smith also alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress was behind the postponement of the march, arguing that the party had enjoyed the opportunity to campaign freely when it was in opposition.
He urged the APC to allow opposition parties a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections, recalling that the ruling party had previously benefited from such an environment when it was seeking power.
