Security operatives on Saturday stationed trucks and vans around the Abuja city gate ahead of the “mega march” to be headlined by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his running mate.
When TheCable visited the city gate, a bevy of armed
personnel was seen milling round the landmark, effectively restricting a
convergence on the premises or surrounding areas.
Security agencies deployed in the area included officers of
the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Civilian Joint Taskforce, the
Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps (NSCDC).
The heightened security presence follows a plan to hold a
mega march and national rally in Abuja on Saturday by a coalition of support
groups backing Obi and Kwankwaso.
The rally was scheduled to begin at 8am, with the city gate
designated as the take-off point.
Speaking with TheCable on the development, Saint Samson, a
mobiliser for the rally, said members were prevented from gathering at Unity
Fountain amid heavy security presence in the city.
“We got to Unity Fountain, but there was a security presence
when we arrived, and some of our members were repelled from converging. We have
decided to move to another location,” Samson said.
“What we want to do is to mobilise support and campaign for
the candidates of our party, as the constitution requires us to do, and gather
to tell Nigerians what we have for them.”
The mobiliser said the march was peaceful and was not
intended to oppose or attack the government.
“We are not against the government or attacking the
government, so sending security to chase us and attack us is not democracy,” he
said.
He added that the group was regrouping to prevent
casualties, insisting that its members were not violent or aggressive.
“We don’t want any casualties, so we are putting our men
together. We are not violent people; we are not aggressive,” he said.
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