Why we dispersed the gathering of Peter Obi supporters in Ebonyi – Police

Ebonyi State Police have justified their decision to disperse hundreds of supporters of Labor Party presidential candidate Peter Obi who gathered for a rally on Saturday.

Police have accused 'Obidients' - the nickname for Mr. Obi's supporters - of not paying the required fee and attacking officers.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the police dispersed the political rally on Saturday morning, in Abakaliki, the state capital.

In a statement sent to reporters, Ebonyi Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu said the police acted based on "rules of engagement".

Mr. Anyanwu also suggested that the police acted based on the Ebonyi government's request for non-payment of approved fees.

Mr. Anyanwu, a superintendent of police, said the supporters met the police before the rally but did not make the payment approved by the state government.

Fans also failed to pay another sum of money refundable as security against damage to government property during the rally, he said.

Nigerian law does not require a police permit or payment before holding peaceful rallies or demonstrations. The police only need to be informed so that they can provide the necessary security.

However, some state governments have begun to put campaign rules in place ahead of campaigns for the 2023 elections that begin later this month. Some of the rules include paying money.

In his statement, Mr Anyanwu also claimed that the Labor Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Edward Nnwegu, had pleaded with supporters to suspend the rally to avert “imminent catastrophe”, but they insisted and maintained that no one would stop them.

The police spokesperson said officers had been deployed to the rally's take-off location, the Pastoral Centre, to maintain peace and order.

He said the decision followed reports that the gathering could become "turbulent and create a state of insecurity" in the state if left unchecked.

"Unfortunately, while the police were properly deployed to ensure there was no breaking of the law, the radicals and troublemakers among the protesters turned violent and started shooting missiles at the police officers, uttering all sorts of unprintable statements about the police and the government. Many of them even went physically to assault and attack the police officers,” he said.

"So in response, and guided by presidential pronouncements at the time of the unpopular SARS protests, on-duty police personnel seized the opportunity to root out the violent and criminal assailants.

"After taking control of the situation, the rally continued and ended peacefully," Mr. Anyanwu said.

Earlier, one of the rally's 'Obidients', Steve Ugama, told PREMIUM TIMES that police fired tear gas to disperse the 'peaceful rally'.

He also said that four of his colleagues had been arrested by the police.

"We gathered here this morning for our peaceful march. All of a sudden the police came and started gassing us and arresting our people.

“They said we couldn't hold the march because Governor David Umahi asked them to stop us, that we couldn't hold it. About four of our colleagues were arrested. help here,” Ugama said minutes after the rally dispersed.

The rally then proceeded successfully, despite the actions of the police.

In his reaction, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State denied ordering the dispersal of the gathering.

Participants had accused the Ebonyi State government of being behind the attempt to disrupt the rally.

But Mr. Umahi, in a statement by his media assistant, Chooks Oko, said he was unaware of the disruption to the rally.

Mr. Oko said it was not true that the governor ordered the police to disrupt the rally.

"The Governor of Ebonyi State is certainly unaware of any disruption of a gathering, as he did not order one.

“He is a Democrat who strongly believes in the rule of law. He wishes the best for all the politicians in the race and will insist on a level playing field for all. people, the answer will surely be res...