The Kano State Police Command has cancelled all political rallies in the state due to violent clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The political parties had planned grand finale rallies for Thursday before the presidential and national assembly elections on Saturday.
However, both parties’ supporters engaged in a fierce battle, prompting police authorities to invite their leaders to an emergency meeting.
Despite being cautioned about possible security threats, representatives of the APC and NNPP rejected the advice.
In response, the police advised all political parties to postpone the planned rallies until after the February 25 elections, citing the precarious security situation in the state and the country as a whole.
In a letter by the police, sighted by News Central, the police said, “You recall that (three) political parties via APC, NNPP, and PDP informed the command of their rallies scheduled for Thursday, February 23, 2023, within Kano metropolis.”
“In view of the precarious security situation in the state and the country in general, the commissioner of Police summoned the representatives of the three political parties to an emergency meeting to find a solution to the impasse.”
“The statement signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mu’azu Mohammed added: “The Commissioner of Police passionately appealed to the consciousness of the representatives that, this is not in their best interest considering the fragile security of the state.”
“It is therefore advise that all political parties postpone the planned presidential/national assembly rallies to a later date after the February 25 elections,” DCP Muhammed noted.
The cancellation follows attacks by unidentified hoodlums along Zaria road, who set several vehicles ablaze and left several victims. The situation has left many residents concerned about a repeat of the 2019 election violence, which resulted in several deaths, injuries, and millions of Naira worth of property damage.