Supporters of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso are preparing for a proposed two-million-man solidarity march in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as political mobilisation gathers momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The planned demonstration is intended to show support for the joint presidential ambition of Obi and Kwankwaso under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The march was initially scheduled for October 1, 2026, to coincide with Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations. However, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command directed political parties and groups to reschedule their activities, citing security concerns and the possibility of clashes between rival political supporters.
The decision generated reactions from the organisers, who said they had invested substantial resources in mobilising participants across the state’s 31 local government areas.
Dr Benjamin Smith, the Akwa Ibom State Director of the Obidient Movement, said the group had spent more than ₦20 million preparing for the event. He questioned the timing of the police directive, noting that the organisers had previously engaged with the command over security arrangements.
The police, however, maintained that the decision was intended to protect public safety amid concerns about competing political activities planned for the same period.
According to the police, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also had political activities scheduled in Uyo between October 1 and 3, raising concerns about possible clashes and the command’s capacity to manage large crowds.
The organisers expressed dissatisfaction with the postponement but urged their supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding while awaiting further information about the march.
The proposed demonstration forms part of the broader political activities surrounding the 2027 presidential election, with supporters of different parties and candidates beginning to intensify grassroots mobilisation.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, have attracted support from political groups seeking to promote their joint presidential ticket.
The scale of the proposed Uyo march has yet to be independently verified, and no confirmed replacement date was established in the reports reviewed.
The next steps will depend on further announcements from the organisers and any necessary security arrangements with the relevant authorities.
Editorial note: The original October 1 event was rescheduled by police. This report does not confirm that a new date has been fixed or that the march will proceed as originally planned.
