ADC Says Police Clampdown On ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Rally In Kano Shameful, Unconstitutional

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has condemned the disruption of a peaceful “Tinubu Must Go” rally at The Avenue Event Center in Kano, describing the action of the Kano State Police Command as shameful, unconstitutional and authoritarian.

In a statement on Sunday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council said the police violated the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The rally, led by Barrister Abba Hikima and organised by concerned youths, was reportedly disrupted when police operatives barricaded the venue and allegedly intimidated participants.

The ADC-PCC said despite the police action, the youths insisted on making their voices heard.

The council also faulted the reported arrest of the owner of The Avenue Event Center for allowing the facility to be used for the gathering, questioning why a business owner should be arrested for hosting a peaceful meeting.

“This is not democracy. This is tyranny. For how long will the APC continue to use the police to suppress dissenting voices?” Ologbondiyan said.

He said it was ironic that a government which claims to uphold democratic values would appear threatened by citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

“The message from Kano is loud and clear: Nigerians are tired, hungry and angry. You can stop a rally and arrest a venue owner, but you cannot arrest hunger in the land. You cannot barricade the anger and frustration of over 200 million people,” he said.

Ologbondiyan added that the energy used to stop the rally should be directed at tackling insecurity, banditry and the rising cost of living.

“If the APC government had deployed the same energy it used to stop a peaceful rally at The Avenue Event Center to tackle insecurity, banditry and the excruciating cost of living, Nigeria would be a safer and more prosperous nation,” he said.

The council commended Hikima and the youths who participated in the rally for their courage, and 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.

It also urged civil society organisations, human rights groups and the international community to take note of what it described as an erosion of democratic freedoms.

“The right to protest is not a privilege granted by the police or the APC; it is a right guaranteed by the Constitution. No amount of intimidation will stop Nigerians from demanding change,” the statement said.

“The ADC stands firmly with Barrister Abba Hikima, the courageous youths of Kano and every Nigerian who has found the courage to say enough is enough,” it added.