The arrest has raised fresh questions about police powers, citizens’ right to peaceful assembly, and political freedom ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom State arrested Elijah Noah, the state coordinator of the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, after armed officers moved to stop an Independence Day march in Uyo on Thursday.
The arrest followed a last-minute police directive cancelling all previously approved political rallies, meetings, and processions scheduled for 1 October, with the command citing intelligence suggesting that political gatherings could be exploited to cause disturbances.
The incident has now raised questions about how the police are balancing security concerns with citizens’ right to peaceful assembly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
Mr Noah was among supporters of the OK Movement who gathered for a planned march in Uyo on Thursday.
A video reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES shows several armed police officers surrounding Mr Noah, dragging him towards a police vehicle and forcing him inside.
Witnesses who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said tear gas was fired as police moved to disperse the supporters at Edet Akpan Avenue, where the march was taking place.
The police, however, denied that tear gas was used and said no firearm was discharged during the operation.
In a statement issued after the incident, police said they arrested eight people for allegedly engaging in acts capable of causing a breach of public peace and disregarding lawful security directives.
The command said the suspects were assisting with investigations and would be prosecuted if found culpable. It also rejected reports of shooting during the operation.
“No shooting incident was recorded in connection with the incident,” the police spokesperson, Timfon John, an assistant superintendent of police, said.
“Police officers discharged no firearm during the operation,” Ms John said, adding that no gunshot injury had been recorded or reported.
Commissioner of Police Baba Azare told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that the decision to stop the march followed security concerns and the potential for a clash between political groups.
He said the command had received a request from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on 9 September to hold political activities from 1 to 3 October and had approved it.
According to him, the OK Movement subsequently submitted a request on 28 September for a two-million-man march on 1 October, covering some of the same locations listed in the PDP’s earlier request.
The commissioner said the command invited the organisers to a meeting and advised them to choose another date to prevent a clash.
He said the police later decided, following a security meeting, that even the PDP should reschedule its approved activities because of the potential security implications.
Mr Azare said the OK Movement, including Mr Noah, attended the meeting at the police headquarters where the organisers agreed to reschedule the march.
He said the police were surprised when Mr Noah and others proceeded with the march on Thursday.
“When they came out, they were arrested and brought for investigation,” the commissioner said.
Mr Azare declined to disclose the specific intelligence that informed the security decision, saying the information was intelligence-related.
He said the police would prosecute those found to have violated the directive.
“We must charge them to court so that in future what will happen will not be disastrous,” he said.
The police’s account matches the explanation given to organisers before the march was stopped. The Obidient Movement’s state director, Benjamin Smith, earlier told Punch that the police cited insufficient personnel and the possibility of a clash with the PDP rally.
The police action has nevertheless drawn criticism from those who argue that security concerns should not automatically translate into preventing peaceful political expression.
Michael Enyong, the NDC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, told PREMIUM TIMES that the police response was excessive and called for the immediate release of Mr Noah and other detainees.
“I condemn this heavy-handed approach by the police. This is a direct assault on the Nigerian constitutional democracy and an infraction of the fundamental right to peaceful assembly,” Mr Enyong said.
He said citizens should be allowed to express their political preferences peacefully, particularly during the Independence Day celebration.
Mr Enyong acknowledged that some NDC members had agreed with the police to reschedule their activities. Still, he argued that this did not necessarily bind people outside the NDC who were participating in the OK Movement march.
He also called on the political leadership in Akwa Ibom to allow multiple political viewpoints to thrive ahead of the 2027 elections.
