Members of the Tinubu Must Go (TMG) movement have accused the police of blocking access to a venue booked for their meeting in Kano State, describing the action as an infringement on their fundamental rights.
Abba Hikima, a lawyer and one of the movement’s conveners, raised the allegation in a live video posted on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Hikima, who wore a shirt and fez cap bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go”, alleged that more than 10 mobile police vehicles had been deployed to the venue to prevent members from accessing the facility.
In the video, some police officers could be seen in the background as Hikima addressed supporters and condemned the alleged blockade.
“Today, the 11th of October 2026, we gathered here in Kano State in order to exercise our fundamental human rights and to associate freely in order to exchange ideas and educate ourselves on the need to send away the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria,” he said.
Hikima described the movement as a platform for public enlightenment and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the aim of voting President Bola Tinubu out of office.
The group said its campaign was driven by concerns over the administration’s economic policies, which it argued had increased hardship for Nigerians.
According to Hikima, the venue was a private event centre that members had paid to use for their gathering.
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He alleged that the police deployment was intended to stop them from exercising their civic rights, adding that the incident reinforced the movement’s opposition to the Tinubu administration.
The lawyer also disclosed that Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, had contacted him before the meeting and advised him to inform the police about the gathering.
Hikima said he explained to the commissioner that the meeting would take place in an enclosed venue and would be conducted peacefully within the law.
“We are not criminals, we are not thugs, we are not hooligans and we have not committed any offence. And there is nothing wrong with what we are doing right now,” he said.
He maintained that the group was not required to obtain police permission to hold the meeting, citing Sections 35, 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which address personal liberty, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association.
Hikima further alleged that some officers had no objection to the gathering itself but objected to members wearing clothing bearing the “Tinubu Must Go” slogan.
He rejected the alleged objection, insisting that the group had the right to display its political message.
“The Court of Appeal decision stands. I do not need to inform any security agent to hold my rallies. Next time, we are going to protest; next time we are going to demonstrate; next time we are going to hit the ground,” he said, as supporters chanted “Tinubu Must Go”.
The Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, did not answer calls or respond to text messages and WhatsApp messages seeking clarification on why officers had allegedly barricaded the venue.
The police had not publicly provided an explanation for the alleged action as of the time of filing this report.