Furore Over Arrest Of Organizer Of Obi-Kwankwaso Rally In Akwa Ibom

By Ayodele Oni

Mixed reactions have greeted the arrest of Elijah Noah, an organiser of the planned Obi-Kwankwaso rally in Uyo, Akwa ibom State by the Police on Thursday.

Reports on Thursday revealed that Elijah Noah, the state coordinator of the OK Movement, was arrested in Uyo amid the disruption of the planned march.

Peter Obi’s media aide, Esther Umoh, also alleged that police fired tear gas at some supporters during the incident.

Obi’s supporter and social media activist, Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, called out the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, over the incident.

The development occurred on Thursday, October 1, after the Akwa Ibom State Police Command directed political parties, groups and associations to suspend rallies, meetings and processions scheduled for Independence Day.

The police claimed that the directive followed intelligence suggesting that some individuals could exploit the gatherings to cause disturbances and threaten public peace.

The planned march was organised in support of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general election.

Reacting to the development, Mama Pee called out the governor and police authorities over the arrest.

The incident has since generated reactions online, with some users criticising the police action and others raising questions about the cancellation of the rally.

The Akwa Ibom Police Command has maintained that the October 1 directive was a precautionary, non-partisan measure taken in the interest of public safety.

X Reactions

@GREGORYHEALTH27: they really want to turn the country to Congo

@EkhatorFestus00: Only GOD knows what APC is tuning Nigeria into

@crownbeetalks: Omo we need to highly ready end APC

@demeyorcso: I dey call the number the idiot no dey pick

@Teeshow012: Imagine

@ChibuzoChizech: This is terrible

@OladejiEmm12648: The Cp look like monkey gif

@InahKenneth: Thats really bad why arrest the young guy

@sapio_clinton: Make we punish them ourselves and leave posterity out of this.

Question, however, remains: “If the Police had asked them to hold on over security issues, why did they disobey the police order?”