Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday went ahead with the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja, despite claims in some quarters that police authorities had obtained a court order stopping the demonstration.
Sowore, who had earlier mobilised Nigerians via social media to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was seen leading protesters in the Federal Capital Territory.
In posts shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle Monday morning, the activist reaffirmed his resolve to proceed with the peaceful protest.
“Good morning, wherever you may be this morning, do not stop moving. Carry a sign, sing a song, make a statement!” he wrote.
The protest, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020, drew activists and sympathisers who gathered at the Transcorp Hilton axis of Abuja around 7 a.m., chanting solidarity songs and displaying banners demanding Kanu’s release.
Sowore had on Sunday night urged Nigerians to participate in the march, saying: “We warmly welcome everyone who has travelled from far and wide to join the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest tomorrow. Your courage, sacrifice, and solidarity speak volumes. Together, we are writing history.”
He had also declared that the organisers planned to mobilise “one million people” across Abuja, urging participants to “come ready, come peaceful, come determined.”
However, the protest reportedly defied what some sources described as a court order obtained by police authorities from the Federal High Court, Abuja, restraining Sowore and others from staging demonstrations near sensitive government facilities such as the Presidential Villa, National Assembly Complex, Force Headquarters, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
Sowore, in a reaction posted on Saturday, dismissed reports of the injunction, questioning its authenticity and accusing the police of selective enforcement.
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“Suppose a court order truly exists restricting protests around Aso Rock Villa; it begs the question: why hasn’t the same police force obtained a similar order against those protesting freely for three consecutive days opposing Nnamdi Kanu’s release?” he wrote.
“The hypocrisy is glaring. The double standards are undeniable,” he added.
The activist insisted that his legal team of 115 lawyers was prepared to challenge any such order once formally served, maintaining that the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow march was both peaceful and lawful.
“October 20 remains sacrosanct. We march peacefully, lawfully, and powerfully,” Sowore declared.
As of press time, police authorities had not issued an official statement on whether the reported court order was served or if the ongoing protest breached any formal restrictions.