The police in Kano State have prevented members of the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ movement from accessing a venue where they planned to hold a meeting aimed at mobilising Nigerians against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at The Avenue Event Centre along Murtala Muhammed Way in the Badawa area of Kano.
Abba Hikima, a lawyer and one of the conveners of the movement, alleged that more than 10 Mobile Police vehicles were deployed to the venue to stop members from entering the facility they had reportedly paid to use.
In a live video shared on his verified Facebook page, Hikima condemned the police action, insisting that the gathering was intended to be peaceful and was organised to enable members to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and association.
He maintained that the group did not require police permission to hold its meeting, citing relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights.
Hikima also alleged that an officer at the scene objected to members wearing clothing bearing the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ inscription, a position he rejected as an infringement on their right to express their political views.
The movement describes itself as a non-partisan platform seeking to mobilise Nigerians to vote Tinubu out of office in the 2027 presidential election. Its campaign is driven by concerns about the administration’s economic policies and the hardship its members say Nigerians are experiencing.
However, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, denied that the command intended to prevent the group from exercising its rights.
Bakori said the organisers were free to assemble but argued that notifying the police would help the command make adequate security arrangements for the gathering.
According to the commissioner, information circulating on social media suggested that about 700 people were expected to attend the meeting, making security planning necessary to protect participants and other residents.
He also cited a recent security incident in the Sabon Gari area of Kano, where police reportedly recovered weapons from individuals who claimed to have travelled to the state for a political event.
Bakori insisted that the police action was motivated by security considerations rather than political interests.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has condemned the reported disruption, accusing the police of violating citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The council also expressed concern over reports that the owner of the event centre had been arrested for allowing the facility to be used for the gathering.
Despite the confrontation, Hikima vowed that members of the movement would return to organise further meetings and demonstrations.
