Tension in Abuja as #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protesters Defy Court Order, Plan March to Presidential Villa

Protest organisers remain defiant

Despite the court order, the organisers—led by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore—have vowed to proceed with the nationwide march.

Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, confirmed that peaceful demonstrations would take place in Abuja and across the South-East.

“Nothing shall discourage us. Marching peacefully anywhere in the country is our constitutionally guaranteed right,” Adenola said. “There is no going back on our resolve to fight this inhumane and illegal act.”

The organisers said they had notified the police of their plans and called for adequate security coverage rather than suppression. Maxwell Opara, counsel to the organisers, argued that his clients had not been served the court order.

“We have notified them, and they will provide security — that’s what they’re expected to do. We’ve not seen any order stopping the protest,” Opara stated.

Legal and political reactions

The planned march, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, has drawn widespread political attention and support from opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who urged the government to engage in dialogue rather than repression.

Obi reiterated his call for negotiation, stating:

“There was no need for Kanu’s arrest in the first place. I will consult and discuss with anybody agitating. That remains my position.”

The Labour Party and New Nigeria People’s Party also issued statements supporting the protesters’ right to peaceful assembly, accusing the government of double standards in its treatment of separatist agitators versus armed groups in the North.

Divided legal team

While Kanu’s senior counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said he preferred to focus on judicial proceedings, another member of the legal team, Aloy Ejimakor, declared full support for the protest, confirming his participation.

“It is the civic and constitutional right of Nigerians to protest,” Ejimakor said, though he declined to confirm whether Kanu himself endorsed the protest.

Heightened security alerts

Security agencies have increased surveillance and deployment across Abuja to forestall violence. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) warned protesters against vandalism or disruption of public order.

FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, said:

“The corps will not tolerate destruction or theft of public and private facilities. Officers have been deployed to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure.”

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) also declared all prison facilities nationwide as “Red Zones”, warning that unauthorised persons should stay clear of correctional centres during the demonstrations.

“Correctional centres are restricted areas, and anyone without official business should stay off to avoid security breaches,” NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar said in a Sunday statement.

Background

Kanu, who faces charges of terrorism, treason, and incitement, was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 after fleeing Nigeria in 2017 while on bail. His extradition sparked diplomatic and legal controversy.

Although IPOB was declared a terrorist organisation in 2017, many of Kanu’s supporters view his detention as political persecution. A recent medical evaluation, however, found him fit to stand trial.

With today’s protest coinciding with the #EndSARS anniversary, authorities fear a repeat of large-scale demonstrations, even as activists insist on their right to peaceful assembly.