Security personnel on Saturday took positions around Abuja’s city gate ahead of a planned mega march by supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
A visit to the landmark by TheCable showed armed operatives and security vehicles deployed around the area, preventing supporters from assembling at the site and nearby locations.
Those deployed included personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Civilian Joint Taskforce.
The security buildup came as a coalition of support groups backing Obi and Kwankwaso prepared to hold a mega march and national rally in the Federal Capital Territory. The event was scheduled to commence at 8am, with the Abuja city gate designated as the meeting point.
However, Saint Samson, a mobiliser for the rally, told TheCable that security operatives prevented some supporters from gathering at Unity Fountain, forcing the group to consider an alternative venue.
“We got to Unity Fountain, but there was a security presence when we arrived, and some of our members were repelled from converging. We have decided to move to another location,” Samson said.
He explained that the planned gathering was intended to promote the party’s candidates and communicate their agenda to Nigerians, adding that the group considered the activity a legitimate part of political participation.
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“What we want to do is to mobilise support and campaign for the candidates of our party, as the constitution requires us to do, and gather to tell Nigerians what we have for them.”
Samson also rejected suggestions that the march was designed to confront the government, describing the security response as inconsistent with democratic principles.
“We are not against the government or attacking the government, so sending security to chase us and attack us is not democracy,” he said.
The mobiliser said the organisers were bringing their members together at another location to avoid possible casualties. He maintained that the group had no intention of engaging in violence.
“We don’t want any casualties, so we are putting our men together. We are not violent people; we are not aggressive,” he added.