The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has denounced the disruption of a 'Tinubu Must Go' rally in Kano State by the police, labelling the incident as shameful and unconstitutional. The council, in a statement released on Sunday, accused the police of violating Nigerians' constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. According to the council, the police barricaded the event centre and intimidated participants, attempting to prevent the gathering from taking place.
The rally, organised by concerned youths and led by Barrister Abba Hikima, was scheduled to take place at The Avenue Event Center in Kano. Despite the disruption, the ADC-PCC commended the youths for their courage and determination to express their grievances, insisting that Nigerians should not be denied the right to peacefully demand change. The council also expressed concern over the reported arrest of the event centre's owner for allegedly allowing the facility to be used for the rally.
The ADC-PCC questioned the justification for arresting a business owner over the use of a venue for a peaceful gathering, describing the development as an indication of the government's intolerance of opposing views. The council's Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the incident as a reflection of growing intolerance of dissent under the All Progressives Congress-led government. He emphasised that preventing protests would not resolve the underlying challenges confronting Nigerians.
Ologbondiyan argued that the incident in Kano reflects growing public frustration over the country's economic difficulties, with Nigerians expressing their anger and frustration over the rising cost of living, insecurity, and banditry. He stated that the government's priorities were misplaced, suggesting that resources deployed to disrupt the rally should instead be directed towards tackling these pressing issues.
The ADC-PCC criticised the government's actions, describing them as an attempt to suppress dissenting voices. Ologbondiyan asked how long the All Progressives Congress would continue to use the police to suppress opposing views. He emphasised that the right to protest was guaranteed by the Constitution and should not depend on the approval of any political party or security agency.
The council commended Hikima and the youths who participated in the rally, saying their determination to speak out despite the police action demonstrated the importance of protecting citizens' democratic freedoms. It also called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Kano State Police Command to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the event centre owner, if still in custody.
The ADC-PCC appealed to civil society organisations, human rights groups, and the international community to monitor what it described as a worrying erosion of democratic freedoms in Nigeria. The council reaffirmed its position that the right to protest was guaranteed by the Constitution and would not be suppressed by intimidation or police action.
Key points
- The ADC-PCC condemned the police disruption of the 'Tinubu Must Go' rally in Kano State, labelling it as shameful and unconstitutional.
- The council commended the youths for their courage and determination to express their grievances, despite the police disruption.
- The incident reflects growing public frustration over Nigeria's economic difficulties and the government's response to dissenting voices.
