[News] Residents ignore police ban on protest in Kano amid tension over Tribunal outcome

Residents of Kano state have defied the order of the state police command banning all forms of protest in the state as members of the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) await the Governorship election petition tribunal.

 

The APC is challenging the emergence of Abba Kabir Yusuf as the elected governor of the state. The party had earlier today asked its members to storm the streets over alleged bribery of the judiciary.

 

While reacting to the directives given by the parties, the Kano state police commissioner banned all forms of protest and said any attempt to disrespect the ban would be treated as an offence against National Security.

 

“Members of the public should therefore note that it has come to our knowledge that both the APC and the NNPP members are currently mobilizing rented crowd in the guise of Civil Society Coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and without prior approval from the security agencies in the state.

Both organizers as well as the umbrella body should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the Security Agencies in the state, by playing around with the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offense against National Security.”

 

However, shortly after the order, the protesters converged on the streets and headed for the Government House where they were addressed by the state Commissioner of Police.