Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has expressed anger over the police cancellation of a two-million-man march organised by “Obidient Movement” scheduled for the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Uyo.
It was gathered that the 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, stating a lack of enough manpower to control such a crowd.
A statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Uyo, warned political parties, groups or associations to halt any planned procession in the city during the Independence Day festivities.
“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 police statement read.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the State Director of Obidient Movement, Dr Benjamin Smith, expressed annoyance, accusing the police of frustrating the planned two-million-man march for Obi/Kwankwaso in the state.
Smith said the order was an afterthought, as the police commissioner had earlier granted their request to hold the rally in Uyo.
He said the Obidient Movement had spent over N20m to mobilise their supporters across the 31 local government areas of the state and wondered why the police would just wake up and cancel the event without minding the cost implications to the organisers.
He added that the party honoured an invitation by the police on September 29, including members of the planning committee for the proposed Akwa Ibom two-million-man solidarity march for Obi-Kwankwaso 2027.
Smith, who was accompanied by the officers of the Obidient Movement and NDC chieftains, estimated the loss following the cancellation of the rally to the tune of N20m and insisted that the movement and NDC would not accept further cancellation in the future.
He encouraged supporters to be law-abiding as another scheduled rally would be communicated to them.
He accused the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, of being responsible for the postponement and reminded them that they were once an opposition party but were given a level playing field to campaign and win elections in the past.
