Kano Crackdown: Police Block 'Tinubu Must Go' Rally, Spark Outrage

The Nigerian political landscape witnessed a significant controversy following the police disruption and alleged crackdown on a "Tinubu Must Go" rally scheduled for Sunday, October 11, 2026, in Kano State. The event, organized by concerned youths and led by Barrister Abba Hikima, was intended to be held at a privately rented venue, The Avenue Event Centre.

Reports from SaharaReporters, corroborated by video evidence posted by Sulaiman Uwaisu Idris, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), indicated a substantial police deployment. More than ten mobile police vehicles were allegedly stationed at the venue, effectively barricading it and preventing participants, including Abba Hikima and other team members, from accessing the facility. An unnamed organizer, speaking in a video, accused the police of obstructing the meeting, stating that the deployment was aimed at preventing attendees from exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. He emphasized that the organizers had paid for the private, enclosed venue themselves, and that their gathering was peaceful.

The organizer further alleged that the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, had contacted him on Saturday, requesting prior information about the gathering. The organizer stated he explained to the Commissioner that the meeting would be held in an enclosed environment and that participants intended to remain peaceful. He argued that under Sections 35, 39, and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, police permission was not required for such a gathering, asserting that the police leadership was acting in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He subsequently accused President Bola Tinubu of being a "tyrant" and called the Inspector-General of Police "partisan" and "unprofessional" for the alleged instruction to disrupt the rally.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), through its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s government over the incident. In a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, the party described the police action as "shameful, unconstitutional," and a "disturbing descent into authoritarianism." The ADC accused the APC-led government of using the police to suppress dissent, asserting, "You can stop a rally and arrest a venue owner, but you cannot arrest hunger in the land." The party also expressed concern over the reported arrest of the owner of The Avenue Event Centre for merely providing a venue for a peaceful political gathering, labeling it as evidence of the government's intolerance of criticism. "This is not democracy. This is tyranny," Ologbondiyan stated, questioning the duration of the APC's use of police to silence dissenting voices.

The ADC commended Hikima and the participating youths for their courage, noting that the message from Kano was clear: "Nigerians are tired, hungry and angry." The party criticized what it called misplaced government priorities, arguing that the resources and determination used to disrupt the rally should instead be directed towards addressing Nigeria’s pressing security challenges and worsening economic hardship. The ADC called for the immediate and unconditional release of the event centre owner and urged police authorities to cease actions that could turn the force into an instrument of political oppression. The party also appealed to civil society organizations, human rights groups, and the international community to monitor the growing threat to democratic freedoms in Nigeria, emphasizing that the right to protest is constitutionally guaranteed and not a privilege.

Global human rights organization Amnesty International also weighed in, condemning the alleged blockade as an "unlawful and outrageous" violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of association. Amnesty International called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately desist from what it described as reckless violations of fundamental human rights. The organization reiterated that the duty of the police should be to protect and facilitate peaceful political gatherings, irrespective of political affiliation, rather than preventing citizens from exercising their constitutional rights. It stressed that freedom of association and peaceful assembly is not exclusive to the ruling party or any particular political group.

Amnesty International warned that the incident in Kano appeared to be part of a broader, troubling pattern of alleged police repression against opposition supporters across Nigeria. This pattern, according to Amnesty, involves repeated arrests, intimidation, restrictions, and disruptions of opposition activities, which could create an atmosphere of fear and hinder citizens' ability to freely associate and organize peaceful public gatherings. The organization's intervention comes amidst increasing political mobilization and tension ahead of the 2027 general elections and growing controversy over the treatment of critics and opposition supporters by security agencies. The "Tinubu Must Go" slogan has become a rallying cry for critics of President Bola Tinubu's administration, particularly in response to economic hardship, insecurity, and governance issues. The Kano incident follows a similar controversy in Borno State, where five men were arrested for wearing "Tinubu Must Go" T-shirts, prompting Amnesty to call for their release and the dropping of charges.