Say directive to hotels, others unconstitutional, void, threat to democratic freedom
From Romanus Ugwu, Ndubuisi Orji and Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force has drawn the ire of the main opposition parties – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) – over directive by the Kaduna State Command to hotels or similar facility not to host any political meetings or gatherings without prior notice to security agencies.
The police command issued the orders following the attack on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and disruption of its meeting by suspected hugs last weekend.
The venue of inauguration of ADC’s transition committee in Kaduna was invaded by suspected thugs, who attacked participants and destroyed property.
The Command said it had commenced investigation into the incident but warned that henceforth, any hotel or similar facility that hosts political meetings or gatherings without prior notice to and clearance from security agencies will be held liable.
In their separate reactions, the ADC, PDP and LP described the directive as a grand plot to intimidate and muscle opposition parties to the advantage of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) also consider it as a blatant aberration that contravenes the spirit and letters of the Nigerian Constitution and a threat to democratic freedom
National Secretary of the coalition, Peter Ameh, cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which unequivocally guarantees every citizen the right to assemble freely and associate with others for the protection of their interests, provided such gatherings are peaceful.
Ameh noted: “Any attempt to restrict this fundamental freedom under the guise of maintaining order represents a dangerous slide into authoritarianism, undermining the very foundations of our democratic system.
“In a true democracy, citizens must be allowed to gather peacefully to express their views, engage in political discourse, and hold leaders accountable without fear of repression.
“The Kaduna police’s blanket suspension not only stifles dissent but also erodes public trust in institutions meant to protect rights, not curtail them. This move sets a perilous precedent that could embolden similar actions across the nation, threatening the vibrancy of our multi-party democracy.
“If the government is truly sincere in its commitment to justice and security, it must prioritize bringing to book the perpetrators of attacks on opposition politicians in the state.
“Selective enforcement of the law, where assailants roam free while peaceful gatherings are banned, exposes a troubling double standard. We call on the authorities to investigate these incidents thoroughly, ensure accountability, and restore the rule of law without bias.
“We urge the Kaduna State government, the Nigeria Police Force, and relevant stakeholders to immediately rescind this unconstitutional directive and uphold the rights of all citizens. Democracy thrives on freedom, not fear,” he noted.
•Violation of freedom of association – PDP
PDP chieftain, Diran Odeyemi, said the ban is a violation of the freedom of association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Odeyemi, former national official of the party, told Daily Sun that what the police should be asking for is an invitation to political gatherings to enable it ensure protection of lives and property.
“What the police should do is to ensure that they protect lives and property. What they should ask for is an invitation to the venue, not that people will now have to get permission from them. That would be a violation of the Freedom of association; which the police don’t have the right to. There is freedom of association in this country, for God’s sake.
“To assist ourselves, what we can do is to inform them whenever there is going to be a meeting. We can invite them to come and protect. There is a difference between invitation to come and protect and asking for permission. Permission to do what?
“You don’t need any permission to associate, according to the Constitution of the country. That would be a wrong step. And I advise the police to always seek legal interpretation of whatever action they want to take, before making pronouncements on it.”
•Police now department of APC
Elder Yusuf Danbaki, chieftain of the LP, accused the Nigeria Police Force of operating as a department of the APC.
He told Daily Sun that recent clampdowns on opposition activities were politically motivated and questioned why security agencies failed to act when the APC allegedly began early campaigning with billboards in Abuja and other cities showcasing “Tinubu 2027.”
“If there was any time the police should have enforced the law, it was when political parties first started violating campaign rules.
“That violation began in Abuja with billboards on airport roads and city centers carrying Tinubu 2027.
“APC began before every other party. Why didn’t the police issue a statement then? Did the law just fall from the sky?”
Danbaki further argued that the police only swung into action after realising the opposition was gaining momentum, insisting that the ruling party was already jittery ahead of the 2027 elections.
“When APC broke the law, it was not an offence. But now that the opposition is waking up to the challenge, they have activated their department, the APC police, to start enforcing the law.
“This is a clear sign that they are losing already,” he said.
While stressing that the opposition must continue to respect the law, Danbaki maintained that Nigerians should not be deceived about the political leaning of the police force.
“Let no one be deceived, the Nigerian police is now a department of the APC. We are going to see more of these actions,” he declared.
Danbaki urged the opposition not to be discouraged but to see the clampdown as evidence that the ruling party is unsettled.
•ADC alleges intimidation
The ADC, in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday, stated that the threat by the police that hotels and event centers that host political meetings without authorisation is tantamount to intimidating citizens and private businesses, as well as denying opposition parties access to spaces for their lawful activities.
“When the Kaduna State Police Command issued its press release on the unfortunate disruption of the ADC meeting in Kaduna State, where our party leaders and members were attacked by armed thugs, we expected reassurance that justice would be done and that those responsible for the violence would be held to account.
“Instead, what we read was a troubling attempt to criminalize legitimate political activity, pre-judge individuals, and cast the opposition in the light of lawlessness.
“First, the Police statement rushed to link the ADC to ‘political gangsters’ even while stating that it has commenced an extensive investigation into the alleged political violence. This contradiction exposes the statement as more political than professional. Investigations should establish facts before conclusions are drawn; when police act as judge and jury, it undermines both justice and democracy.”
The party contended that “the claim by the Kaduna police that our gathering was ‘unauthorised’ is dangerously presumptuous. In a democracy, the right to assemble peacefully is guaranteed by the Constitution, not a State Police Command. A Police notification is a matter of procedure and often courtesy, not a license to exercise a right that has been granted by the constitution. To suggest otherwise is to turn citizens’ freedoms into privileges at the mercy of the state.
“Third, the threat that hotels and event centres will be held liable: if they host political meetings without police approval is equally ludicrous. It amounts to intimidation of private citizens and businesses, effectively denying opposition parties access to spaces for lawful activity. No democracy thrives where access to public or private venues is determined by the whims of security agencies under any guise. “
According to the ADC, the blanket suspension of ‘unauthorised gatherings’ as declared by the Kaduna police command in its statement, is clear overreach. Security agencies are to protect lawful assemblies, not proscribe them. To arrogate to themselves the power to decide which political meetings may hold is to hand the police veto authority over democracy itself.”
Consequently, the party, while rejecting alleged attempts by the Kaduna State Police Command to drag its name into acts of violence that it neither organised nor condoned, stated that it remains committed to peaceful and issue-based politics.
“We, therefore, demand that the Kaduna State Police Command immediately revisit its statement, conduct a transparent investigation, and explain why its officers allegedly abandoned their duty when our leaders and members came under attack.
“Democracy is not a crime. Selective policing is. Still, we in the ADC will not be intimidated into silence. We also call on all citizens to reject the growing acts of violence and intimidation against opposition parties by the ruling APC at all levels,” it stated.
