Police Block ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Meeting in Kano as Commissioner Defends Action

By Newsworld

The Kano State Police Command has defended its intervention at a meeting organised by the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ movement, following allegations by the group’s convener, Abba Hikima, that officers prevented members from accessing a privately hired venue for their gathering on Sunday.

Hikima, a lawyer, alleged in a live video shared on his verified Facebook page that about 10 mobile police vehicles were deployed to the venue in Kano on October 11, 2026. He accused the police of obstructing the group’s right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, insisting that the meeting was intended to mobilise Nigerians against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Addressing viewers during the incident, Hikima said the organisers had paid for the private venue and had committed no offence to warrant the police action. He cited Sections 35, 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which address personal liberty, freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association, respectively. He also alleged that one of the officers objected to participants wearing shirts and caps bearing the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ slogan.

The convener further disclosed that the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, had contacted him on Saturday night to ask why the command had not been informed about the planned gathering. Hikima maintained that the meeting was to take place in an enclosed environment and insisted that the movement would continue to organise gatherings and demonstrations.

However, Bakori said the police intervention was motivated by concerns about the safety of participants and residents, rather than political considerations. Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, the commissioner acknowledged the organisers’ right to assemble but said notifying the command would have enabled officers to assess security needs and make adequate arrangements for an event expected to attract about 700 people.

According to Bakori, he contacted Hikima after learning about the planned meeting on social media and asked him to postpone the programme and meet with the command to discuss the arrangements. He said Hikima promised to consult other organisers but did not subsequently respond to his calls.

The commissioner also cited an incident in Sabon Gari about two weeks earlier, claiming that police had recovered weapons from individuals who said they had travelled to Kano for political activities. He said the incident contributed to the command’s concerns about another large gathering whose organisers and security arrangements had not been fully established.

Bakori, however, denied that the police were acting on behalf of any political party, maintaining that the command’s objective was to prevent violence and protect the public. He added that the police had previously provided security for activities organised by Hikima when the command was informed in advance.

The ‘Tinubu Must Go’ movement describes itself as a non-partisan political platform seeking to mobilise Nigerians to vote against Tinubu in the 2027 elections. The group attributes its campaign to economic policies it believes have worsened hardship in the country.

The disagreement has raised questions about the balance between citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and the police’s responsibility to maintain public order. While the commissioner said prior notification would have helped the command provide security, Hikima maintained that the group should be allowed to exercise its rights without obstruction.