Uyo March: Obidient Movement Claims ₦20m Loss After Police Reschedule Rally

The Obidient Movement in Akwa Ibom State says it has suffered an estimated ₦20 million financial loss following the rescheduling of its planned two-million-man march in Uyo in support of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The solidarity march, organised ahead of the 2027 presidential election, was expected to take place on October 1 as part of activities marking Nigeria’s Independence Day.

The police, however, ordered the rescheduling of political rallies, meetings, processions and other related activities that had earlier received approval to hold across Akwa Ibom State on October 1.

The directive was issued by the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, based on what the command described as security concerns.

According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, intelligence available to the command suggested that some individuals could exploit the political activities to cause disturbances and threaten public peace.

The police statement said:

“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.”

Reacting to the development at a press conference in Uyo on Thursday, the State Director of the Obidient Movement, Benjamin Smith, said the directive had disrupted extensive preparations for the march.

Smith alleged that the police had previously approved the event and questioned why the approval was later withdrawn.

He disclosed that more than ₦20 million had allegedly been spent on mobilising supporters from the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

The Obidient Movement official also said representatives of the party and the organising committee met with the police on September 29 after receiving an invitation from the command.

According to Smith, the meeting was attended by the state party chairman, the director of media for the march and the event’s head of security.

He said Commissioner Azare explained that the police did not have enough personnel to provide security for an estimated two million participants because the PDP had already been cleared to hold a rally from October 1 to 3.

“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 appeared alongside officials of the Obidient Movement and NDC chieftains, estimated the financial impact of the postponement at ₦20 million.

He further warned that the movement and the NDC would oppose any future attempt to cancel the event after a new date is announced.

“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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