The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has condemned the reported blockade of the venue of the ‘Tinubu-Must-Go’ event in Kano by heavily armed police officers, describing the incident as a concern for the protection of fundamental human rights and democratic principles.
In a statement, the organisation said the reported action raised questions about the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression.
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CITAD maintained that these rights must be respected irrespective of citizens’ political affiliations, opinions or criticism of the government.
The organisation said the primary responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force was to protect citizens, maintain public order and facilitate the peaceful exercise of their rights, rather than intimidate or obstruct lawful gatherings.
It stressed that the right to peaceful protest should not depend on whether the views expressed by participants support or oppose the government.
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CITAD called on the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other relevant authorities to ensure that security agencies operate within the provisions of the Constitution and respect citizens’ civic freedoms.
The organisation also urged the authorities to investigate the reported incident, establish accountability where violations are found and issue clear directives against the arbitrary obstruction of peaceful political activities.
It warned that repeated intimidation or restrictions on opposition voices and peaceful protesters could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions and further shrink civic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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According to CITAD, democracy cannot thrive where citizens are prevented from expressing dissent peacefully, adding that the government and security agencies must uphold the rule of law and protect the fundamental rights of all Nigerians.
The organisation reiterated that peaceful dissent was not a crime and called on government institutions and security agencies to ensure that political expression was treated fairly, regardless of whose interests were involved.