Police Tear-Gas Peter Obi Supporters At Ebonyi Rally, But They Remained Undeterred

Organisers of a rally in support of the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, were on Saturday tear-gassed by the police in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, in South-East Nigeria.

Members and their supporters had gathered along Mile 50 to embark on a rally to canvass support for their candidate but were stopped from going into the streets.

But the rally went ahead after the organisers were tear-gassed in their first attempt to embark on the street procession in Abakaliki.

One of the supporters who spoke to Channels Television, Nwali Ikechukwu, said some persons were injured when the security agency came calling.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Ebonyi State Police Command, SP Chris Anyanwu, could not be immediately reached for comments.

In a related development, supporters of Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, staged a solidarity rally in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Saturday.

Ebonyi, a state controlled by ruling All Progressives Congress, is administered by Governor Dave Umahi.

Channels Television had last week reported that Umahi said though “Peter Obi movement” is one built on equity, justice, and fairness, “it may not translate to outright win”.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had said campaigns for next year’s polls would begin on September 28.

Leaders and members of the Labour Party in the state had gathered as early as 9 am along Mile 50 within the metropolis to show support for the former Anambra State governor.

The rally scheduled to commence from the Pastoral Centre along Mile 50 at 9 am in the state capital, could not start as the police, who had stationed at the two entry points, disrupted the organisers with the use of teargas canisters.

Despite having a shaky start, the Peter Obi solidarity train moved from the Pastoral Centre along Mile 50 through Enugu Abakaliki Expressway, to the city centre and back to the same venue where it all began.

Meanwhile, Governor Dave Umahi has denied ordering the disruption of the solidarity rally by Obi’s supporters.

“If it is true that the police dispersed people, the answer will surely rest with the police,” said a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko.

In a related development, supporters of Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, staged a solidarity rally in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Saturday.

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