Kano police block ‘Tinubu Must Go’ meeting amid rights concerns

Police in Kano, Nigeria, have blocked access to a private venue intended for a meeting of the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ (TMG) movement. Organizers, including lawyer Abba Hikima, reported that over 10 mobile police vehicles were deployed to prevent the group from exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and association.

The TMG movement describes itself as a non-partisan platform seeking to mobilize voters to remove President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office in the 2027 general elections, citing economic hardships as a primary driver. Amnesty International and the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) have condemned the blockade, describing it as a violation of fundamental human rights and a sign of police repression against political opposition.

In a separate political development, the Directorate of Mobilization and Integration (DMI), led by former Obidient Movement organizer Marcel Ngogbehei, has announced a formal alliance with the Tinubu Must Stay (TMS) movement. The DMI, which previously supported Peter Obi, stated the partnership aims to provide detailed policy alternatives for Nigerians facing high food prices and unemployment, questioning the lack of concrete alternatives presented by the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ campaign.