Presidency speaks on Abuja City Gate security deployment amid Obi-Kwankwaso march

The Presidency issued a statement on the security deployment at Abuja City Gate, amid the planned march by Peter Obi and his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso to mobilize support for the upcoming election. According to reports, military tanks and personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were present at the gate on Saturday morning.

However, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on social media, Dayo Olusegun, denied that the heavy security presence was due to the Obi-Kwankwaso march. He clarified that such security measures are standard when the President embarks on a trip, emphasizing that it's to ensure his safety. Olusegun urged against interpreting every action as an attempt to suppress the opposition, asserting that the Tinubu administration remains committed to upholding democracy.

The President is currently in Kaduna State to launch his presidential campaign. Tinubu's campaign team had previously accused the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, of trying to undermine the incumbent's campaign. However, Atiku's spokesperson stated that Tinubu's poor performance warranted a campaign against his re-election.

The 2027 general election, scheduled for January 16, will see Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi, and 15 other presidential candidates compete for the presidency.