The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed anger over the cancellation of a two-million-man solidarity march organised by the Obidient Movement in support of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The march, which was scheduled to take place in Uyo on Thursday, October 1, 2026, was cancelled after the state police command directed political parties and groups to reschedule rallies and other public political activities planned for Independence Day.
The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, said the directive was based on security concerns and intelligence suggesting that some individuals could exploit political activities to cause disturbances and threaten public peace.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the command said all approvals previously granted for rallies, meetings, processions and other related political activities scheduled for October 1 across the state should be rescheduled.
“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 said.
However, addressing journalists in Uyo, the State Director of the Obidient Movement, Benjamin Smith, accused the police of frustrating the planned march.
Smith described the cancellation as an afterthought, claiming that the police commissioner had earlier approved the organisers’ request to hold the event.
He said the movement had spent more than N20 million mobilising supporters across the 31 local government areas of the state and questioned the timing of the police directive.
According to Smith, representatives of the NDC and members of the march’s planning committee had honoured an invitation from the police on September 29 to discuss arrangements for the proposed event.
He said the police subsequently informed the organisers that the command did not have enough personnel to provide security for a gathering of the expected size, particularly as other political activities were scheduled to take place in the state around the same period.
Smith, who was accompanied by Obidient Movement officials and NDC chieftains, estimated the financial loss arising from the cancellation at about N20 million.
He said the NDC and the movement would not accept another cancellation if the march was rescheduled, while urging supporters to remain law-abiding.
He added that a new date for the rally would be communicated to supporters.
Smith also alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind the postponement, arguing that opposition parties should be allowed a level playing field to campaign.
The police, however, have publicly cited security concerns and intelligence indicating possible threats to public order as the reason for the directive.
