Members of the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ movement have accused the police of preventing them from accessing a privately hired meeting venue in Kano State, describing the alleged action as an infringement on their constitutional rights.
The protest followed the reported deployment of security personnel to the venue on Sunday, October 11, 2026, where members of the group had planned to hold a gathering to discuss their campaign against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The movement’s convener, lawyer Abba Hikima, made the allegation during a live broadcast on his verified Facebook page, claiming that about 10 mobile police vehicles had been stationed at the location.
The group describes itself as a non-partisan movement seeking to mobilise Nigerians to vote Tinubu out of office in the 2027 general elections, citing economic hardship and dissatisfaction with the administration’s policies.
Speaking during the broadcast, Hikima said members had assembled to exercise their rights to peaceful association and exchange of ideas but were allegedly prevented from entering the venue they had paid to use.
He maintained that the gathering was intended to be peaceful and accused the police of treating the participants unfairly despite what he described as their lawful intentions.
“We are not criminals, we are not thugs, we are not hooligans and we have not committed any offence,” Hikima said, insisting that there was nothing unlawful about the group’s activities.
He argued that the alleged obstruction had strengthened the movement’s resolve to continue its campaign against the Tinubu administration.
Hikima also disclosed that the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, contacted him on Saturday to ask why the organisers had not informed the command about the planned meeting.
According to the lawyer, he explained that the event would take place within an enclosed private venue and that participants intended to conduct themselves peacefully.
He said he told the commissioner that the organisers were prepared to maintain order and did not consider the meeting a threat to public safety.
However, Hikima maintained that the organisers were not required to obtain police permission before exercising their rights to assemble and express political opinions.
The convener invoked Sections 35, 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which address personal liberty, freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
He argued that the movement’s planned meeting fell within these constitutional protections and should not have been obstructed.
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Hikima further alleged that one of the officers objected to participants wearing clothing bearing the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ inscription.
He said the slogan was a form of political expression and insisted that members would continue to display it.
‘Tinubu Must Go’ Movement Vows To Continue Campaign
Despite the reported confrontation, Hikima said the movement would continue to organise gatherings, protests and demonstrations against the President.
He also referred to a Court of Appeal decision in support of his position that organisers did not need to notify security agencies before holding rallies, although he did not provide details of the ruling during the broadcast.
As he spoke, some participants could be heard chanting, “Tinubu Must Go.”