Peter Obi's Support Group Leaders Released After One Day in Police Custody

The Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom State has released the leaders of the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) and Obidient movements. They spent more than 24 hours in detention after a disagreement over an Independence Day march in Uyo.

The OK and Obidient movements support Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Elijah Noah, the coordinator of the OK Movement, and Ben Smith, the state coordinator of the Obidient Movement, were among nine people arrested during the confusion around the planned political march on October 1st.

Noah informed PREMIUM TIMES by phone on Saturday that all nine detainees were released around 6 p.m. on Friday.

The police made the arrests after they ordered political parties and groups to change the date of approved rallies and meetings set for October 1st. They cited security concerns as the reason for this order.

The police said they received intelligence suggesting that political gatherings might be used to create chaos and disturb public peace. They emphasized that this order was general and not aimed at any specific group.

But the organizers disagreed with the police’s version of events, especially regarding the circumstances of Noah’s arrest and how supporters were sent away.

Noah spoke on XL FM after his release. He mentioned that he had met with the Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, who worried about the police's ability to provide enough security for the march.

He explained that the procession was meant to be peaceful and that October 1st was chosen because it is Nigeria’s Independence Day. After discussions with the police, the organizers agreed to change the date of the march.

However, Noah later found out that some supporters showed up at the original starting point despite the postponement. He said many of them had only heard about the march and did not see the announcement about the new date.

When he discovered that many were already at the starting point, he went to inform them about the new date. "I know we all believe in our principal. Let’s work with a scheduled date," he recalled telling the crowd.

He claimed that police officers arrived shortly after and used tear gas when they saw him speaking to the crowd while wearing an OK Movement shirt. This claim has not been verified independently.

The police, however, stated that they arrested eight people for actions that could disrupt public peace and ignoring lawful security orders. They also denied using guns or tear gas during the operation.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that witnesses said tear gas was used to disperse the crowd, which the police denied.

Frank Okon, the media director of the planned march, challenged the police’s heavy presence at the scene. "Have you ever seen, if at all there was a protest, the police outnumber those who came to protest?" Okon asked.

He was present during the incident and rejected the police’s claim that tear gas was not used. He noted that people ran away after police intervened. "This is not good for democracy because the window for campaign had opened," he said.

PREMIUM TIMES also visited the incident site. Witnesses told the newspaper that police officers fired tear gas, causing people to flee the area.

Smith was reportedly arrested after he went with other supporters to demand the release of Noah and the others. His arrest heightened tensions, with the Obidient Movement calling for the immediate release of both coordinators and other detained members.

The movement accused the police of trying to intimidate its members and limiting political expression. The police insisted their actions were based on security concerns and the failure to follow their directives.

Earlier, the police said march organizers had met with them and were advised to pick another date due to fears of possible clashes and public safety.

Samuel Duff, the secretary of the OK Movement in Akwa Ibom and one of those arrested, linked the incident to the state's political climate. He said the police commissioner denied that the arrests were political.

Duff argued that the political situation in the state, where the PDP and APC are cooperating, raises questions about the incident's circumstances. He worried that similar events could impact political activities as the 2027 elections approach.

The police have consistently said the arrests were not politically motivated. They claim their actions were due to security concerns.

The police believe the planned march could create public-order issues, especially since other political activities were also set for the same time and locations.

The release of the nine detainees on Friday has calmed the situation for now, but questions about police authority to control political gatherings remain. This situation also arises as political activities ramp up in Akwa Ibom ahead of the 2027 elections.