A planned birthday rally in Kaduna State for former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has been put on hold — this time, not by organizers, but by the police.
Supporters had scheduled the gathering to honour Obi’s birthday, but the Kaduna State Police Command has stepped in, saying the rally could pose a serious threat to public safety.
In a statement issued Saturday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, the police said intelligence reports warned that criminal elements were planning to hijack the rally — turning what was meant to be a peaceful event into a platform for chaos.
“There’s credible intelligence that some miscreants intend to infiltrate the event, incite violence, and disturb public peace,” the statement read.
According to the police, the timing of the rally couldn’t have been worse. It clashes with party primaries scheduled across the state — official political activities sanctioned by INEC, Nigeria’s electoral body. These primaries are set to take place in multiple locations, and the police say the Obi rally would likely “overlap and disrupt” them, raising the risk of tension or even violence.
While the command acknowledged the public’s right to assemble and celebrate political leaders, it reminded residents that all political rallies and public gatherings of a political nature remain suspended in Kaduna State — until INEC officially greenlights the start of campaign activities.
“We understand people want to honour their leaders, but safety comes first,” DSP Hassan said.
The police advised organisers to suspend the rally and warned they will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone who defies the directive.
For now, the message from Kaduna Police is clear: No politics in the streets — not until the official clock starts ticking.
