Obidients defy fake rally ban, storm Kaduna for Obi

DDM News

(DDM) – Supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as the “Obidients,” have strongly refuted claims made by the Kaduna State Police Command that a planned rally in honour of Obi’s birthday was stopped to prevent hijacking by hoodlums.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Kaduna Police Command was alleged to have issued a statement through its spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, warning against the rally.

However, attempts by DDM correspondents to independently confirm whether the statement genuinely originated from the Command were unsuccessful.

This followed earlier reports by Daily Trust, which cited the supposed police directive without providing verifiable evidence or any official documentation.

The planned birthday rally, scheduled for July 19 in Kaduna, was part of a nationwide celebration to honour Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State.

Obidients across several states had been preparing to hold symbolic events, including charity outreach and solidarity walks, to mark Obi’s contributions to good governance and youth engagement.

The Kaduna Police Command was quoted as stating that its intelligence unit received information suggesting that hoodlums were planning to hijack the rally to incite violence and cause disruptions.

It also reportedly emphasized that political gatherings remain suspended in the state until the official timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permits campaigns.

However, members of the Obidient movement responded by accusing the police and the media of deliberate misinformation.

According to them, the event was a non-political, voluntary celebration and not a campaign rally.

They emphasized that the gathering had no links to party primaries or electioneering activities and was never meant to conflict with INEC’s political calendar.

A spokesperson for the movement in Kaduna described the police statement as “a calculated attempt to demonize the Obidient brand and frustrate peaceful civic action.”

He added that the rally was never meant to cause disruption and that proper channels of communication were followed to inform local authorities of the peaceful nature of the gathering.

Observers also note that the Kaduna State Police Command’s justification,  citing a potential clash with ongoing party primaries, appears flimsy, especially since birthday rallies are not regulated by INEC guidelines on political events.

Obidients believe the clampdown reflects growing intolerance toward youth-led political expression in Northern Nigeria, particularly any that celebrates Peter Obi’s rising popularity.

In previous birthday rallies organized for Obi, supporters conducted medical outreaches, sanitation exercises, and charity donations in several cities, including Abuja, Awka, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, all without incident.

This recent development in Kaduna has drawn criticism from civil society actors who warn against silencing peaceful civic expression under the guise of “security threats.”

They argue that instead of banning such events, security agencies should provide protection and crowd control measures to ensure safety, as is done in other parts of the country.

The Obidient movement continues to enjoy strong grassroots support among Nigerian youths, many of whom see Peter Obi as a symbol of accountability, simplicity, and generational change.

Despite the setback in Kaduna, organisers say Obi’s birthday will still be honoured through coordinated acts of service and online campaigns, as originally planned.

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