by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
KADUNA: Group, under the guise of ‘Concerned Citizens and Democratic Actors’ (CCDA), has warned the Nigeria Police, Kaduna State Command, to desist from criminalizing democratic rights.
This is coming on the heels of a recent press release by the State Police Command alleging political violence meetings and the threat to sanction venues hosting political gatherings without prior police notification.
The group, in a release made available Monday, by its leader, Mal. Umar Yahya, stated that the police threats and sanction of venues hosting political gatherings without prior police notification, is reckless directive, unconstitutional, undemocratic, and smacks of desperation to stifle opposition voices.
It stated, “Our attention as Concerned Citizens and Democratic Actors, has been drawn to today’s purported press release by the Kaduna State Police Command alleging “political violence meetings” and threatening to sanction venues hosting political gatherings without prior police notification.
“This reckless directive is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and smacks of desperation to stifle opposition voices. Section 40 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to freely assemble and associate. Notification to police is not the same as seeking permission,” it stated.
The concerned group stated that, by attempting to ban political meetings and intimidate hotels and event centers, “the Police are dragging Kaduna back to the dark days of authoritarian rule.”
They added that, “History has shown – from Nigeria’s own struggle against military dictatorship to resistance movements across the world – that such tactics always fail.”
The group demanded the immediate withdrawal of this unlawful directive. “We call on the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society, and the media to resist this creeping authoritarianism. We also urge the international community – ECOWAS, AU, and Nigeria’s democratic partners – to take note of this dangerous precedent.
“Our commitment remains clear: we will engage peacefully, lawfully, and firmly to defend democracy in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large. Nigeria’s democracy was hard won. We will not allow it to be suffocated under the guise of ‘security.’
“Once again, let me retreat that, we won’t be intimidated in exercising our democratic right,” the group restated.