Disregarding the directive from the state police command, residents in Kano state have refused to comply with the ban on any protest activities. This situation comes at a time when both the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) are awaiting the verdict of the Governorship election petition tribunal.
The APC is contesting the victory of Abba Kabir Yusuf as the duly elected governor of the state. In response, the party has urged its members to take to the streets, citing alleged bribery within the judiciary.
In response to the parties’ instructions, the Kano state police commissioner has prohibited all forms of protests, warning that any attempt to disregard this ban would be treated as a violation of national security.
“Members of the public should therefore note that it has come to our knowledge that both the APC and the NNPP members are currently mobilizing rented crowd in the guise of Civil Society Coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and without prior approval from the security agencies in the state.
Both organizers as well as the umbrella body should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the Security Agencies in the state, by playing around with the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offense against National Security.”
However, shortly after the order, the protesters converged on the streets and headed for the Government House where they were addressed by the state Commissioner of Police.
