Amnesty International has condemned the reported blockade of a venue for a “Tinubu-Must-Go” event in Kano State, accusing the Nigeria Police Force of violating the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
The human rights organisation said heavily armed police officers blocked both ends of the road leading to the venue on Sunday, preventing access to the location of the planned gathering.
Amnesty International described the action as unlawful and called on the police to desist from what it characterised as a violation of fundamental human rights.
The organisation stressed that supporters of all political candidates and parties have the right to organise and participate in peaceful political activities, regardless of their political affiliations or the positions they hold on government policies.
According to Amnesty International, the responsibility of the police is to facilitate the peaceful conduct of political gatherings and protect participants, irrespective of the party or candidate they support or oppose.
It emphasised that freedom of association and peaceful assembly are constitutional rights that must be respected equally, rather than privileges reserved for supporters of particular political parties.
The organisation further expressed concern that the incident reflected what it described as a troubling pattern of police repression targeting opposition supporters in different parts of the country.
It warned that repeated incidents of alleged intimidation and obstruction could undermine citizens’ ability to associate freely, express dissenting political opinions and organise peaceful public gatherings.
Amnesty International called on the Nigeria Police Force to uphold its human rights obligations, ensure impartiality in the discharge of its duties and respect the rights of citizens to peaceful political participation.
The organisation maintained that peaceful dissent is a legitimate part of democratic governance and that law enforcement authorities must protect, rather than obstruct, the exercise of fundamental freedoms.
