Alex Otti to youths: Obtain police approval before embarking on protest

Alex Otti, governor of Abia, says those planning to organise the nationwide protest should get police approval. 

Otti spoke on Sunday when Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, visited him at his country home in Nvosi, Isialangwa south LGA of Abia.

The Abia governor said it is illegal for people to organise a protest without getting approval from the police, adding that residents of the state should consider the implications of the demonstration before embarking on it.

“It is very unfair to say things are not difficult. Hunger is real, and that is true,” he said.

“How did you solve the problem? The problem we find ourselves in this country is economic. We are actually paying the price for bad governance that did not start today.

“First of all, for you to start a protest, the law requires you to get approval from security forces, particularly the police, and somebody should take responsibility for getting that approval.

“If you don’t have the approval, then it would be against the law to go out on the street to protest.”

Otti spoke minutes after Obi expressed support for the planned protest.

Section 40 of the 1999 constitution guarantees the rights of a Nigerian to “assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union, or any other association for the protection of his interest”.