Defying a Federal High Court injunction, organizers of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest are vowing to march on the Presidential Villa today, setting the stage for a potential confrontation with security forces who have been deployed to protect key government institutions.
A major showdown is anticipated in Abuja today as organizers of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest vow to march on the Presidential Villa, despite an interim court order expressly prohibiting the demonstration near key government buildings.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, in an order issued by Justice Mohammed Umar, restrained the protesters from gathering at the Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, and other sensitive locations. The order, secured by the Nigeria Police Force, remains in effect pending a hearing scheduled for today.
However, protest leaders remain defiant. The Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, affirmed the protest would proceed as planned, stating, “Nothing shall discourage us! Marching peacefully anywhere in the country is our constitutionally guaranteed right. Nothing can derogate it… There is no going back.”
Counsel for the organizers, Maxwell Opara, acknowledged reports of the suit but stated, “We have not seen the order.” He insisted the march to the seat of power was a necessary form of direct communication with leaders.
The protest has garnered significant political backing, receiving endorsements from major opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi. Organizer Omoyele Sowore disclosed extensive mobilisation, with over 115 lawyers, medics, and journalists on standby.
In response, security agencies are taking a firm stance. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has warned against vandalism, while the Nigerian Correctional Service has declared all correctional centres across the country as “Red Zones,” warning the public to stay away “to avoid any untoward incidents.”