The Kaduna State Police Command has announced the suspension of a planned rally organized by supporters of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, citing serious security concerns and a potential clash with political activities scheduled by other parties in the state.

The rally, which was intended to celebrate Mr. Obi’s birthday, was expected to draw large crowds in Kaduna. However, the police command raised the alarm over credible intelligence indicating that the event could be hijacked by criminal elements seeking to exploit the occasion to cause public unrest, incite violence, and disturb the relative peace currently prevailing in the state.

In an official statement released on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, stated that the rally’s timing coincides with the conduct of primary elections by several political parties in the state activities that have been formally scheduled and communicated to the police by the respective party officials in line with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) protocols.

“While the primary elections by political parties are scheduled by INEC to hold on the same date the Obi supporters planned for their rally, the Kaduna Police Command notes that the rally will overlap and disrupt several areas designated for the conduct of other parties’ primaries,” the statement read. “This poses a significant risk of tension, clashes, and breakdown of law and order in the state.”

The Command further emphasized that political gatherings and rallies remain suspended across Kaduna State until INEC officially declares the commencement of campaign activities. The police stated that this restriction is part of efforts to maintain public peace and avoid actions that could lead to political violence or chaos in the pre-election period.

DSP Hassan noted that while the Command respects the constitutional rights of individuals and groups to gather peacefully and to honour their political leaders, such rights must be exercised within the limits of the law and current security advisories.

“The Command wishes to reiterate that all forms of political rallies and public gatherings of a political nature remain suspended in the state until the official commencement date of political activities as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” the statement added.

Organisers of the planned Peter Obi birthday celebration rally have been advised to suspend the gathering to avoid confrontation with law enforcement and to prevent their event from being infiltrated by troublemakers. The police made it clear that while peaceful expression is allowed under the law, public safety and order will remain a top priority.

The Command also disclosed that several political parties in the state had formally notified the police of their planned primaries on the same date as the proposed rally, and security arrangements had already been put in place for those events. Any overlapping political activity, the police warned, could trigger unexpected tensions and conflict among rival supporters, especially in contested political zones.

Reiterating its readiness to ensure peace and security across the state, the Kaduna State Police Command stated that it would not hesitate to take firm legal action against any individual or group found to be flouting the suspension directive or attempting to disrupt public order.

The development comes as political parties across Nigeria intensify preparations for upcoming bye-elections and the 2027 general elections, with Kaduna being one of the strategic battlegrounds in the North-West region.