Obi-Datti supporters take over Lagos as Oct. 1 rally finally holds (+videos)

Supporters of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate in the 2023 General Elections, Dr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed took over the major streets and roads in Lagos, Saturday, to hold their much-anticipated October 1 “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally.”

The rally staged on the country’s Independence Day anniversary, had twice been the subject of litigation at the Federal High Court in Lagos which presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor had refused to stop the march in the suit filed by 1o litigants seeking to halt the event.

The court which had earlier Thursday, September 15 first hearing declined to grant the injunction sought by the lawyers against the rally, again on Wednesday, September 28 at the resumed sitting refused to stop the rally on the grounds that it portends no danger to the Lagos society as claimed by the litigants.

The planned rally by supporters of Obi and Datti is scheduled for October 1, in Lagos and is tagged; “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally.”

Presiding judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, however, at the Wednesday ruling, barred supporters from the Lekki Toll Gate and Bridge axis of the state.

Also, the judge directed that the rally procession cannot converge on the Lekki toll gate, said the marchers can pass through the toll gate to access Falomo Bridge and other venues at which the rally plans to meet.

Justice Osiagor while ruling on a motion for injunction brought by 10 plaintiffs, who are asking the court to, among others, restrain the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure and their loyalists from holding the rally, further directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order.

A preliminary objection filed by the defendants (Obi, et al) seeking to stop the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction could however not been entertained as all parties to the suit had not been served.

The court adjourned hearing of the substantive suit till November 4.

The Lekki Toll Gate was the hotspot in the 2020 EndSARS peaceful protests which resulted in the death of nearly a dozen youths at the hands of security operatives including the Army, as soldiers fired upon unarmed protesters.

The decision by the court follows one of the prayers sought by the litigants that the march was being planned as a reenactment of the EndSARS rally of October 2020 which wreaked havoc across the country as youth protested police brutality and harsh economic conditions.

The plaintiffs brought the Originating Summons pursuant to Section 6(6) (1) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), section of the Police Act. 2020, section (3) of the National Security Agencies Act Cap N74, Section 1(3) of the terrorism (prevention and prohibition) Act, 2022. Order 3. Rule 6 of the federal high court (civil procedure) rules 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The suit which was marked FHC/L/CS/1720/22 had the ten lawyers who are the plaintiffs, namely: Adedotun Ajulo Esq; Salamatu Suleiman Lewi Esq; Hakeem Jaduola, Esq; Ogunbona Akinpelu Esq; Owolabi K. Oluwasegun, Esq; Mogbojuri Kayode Esq; Wuyep Mantin Nadom Esq; Dimimu Mabel Esq; Kolawole Salami, Esq and Wale Abe Lawrence.

The litigants listed Peter Obi and the LP, LP National Chairman Julius Abure, Esq; Inspector-General of Police; Commissioner of Police (Lagos State Command); Director General, (Department Of State Services); Lekki Concession Company Limited; Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Governor of Lagos State, as defendants.

Giving details on the rally in Lagos, Chairman of the Publicity and Media Committee for the team, Christopher Ademuyiwa, confirmed that the march is holding in three different locations in the city of Lagos.

According to Ademuyiwa, the event is being organised by a coalition of all the support teams for Obi-Datti ahead of the forthcoming presidential election.

Ademuyiwa said the rally will take place on Saturday, October 1, simultaneously in Lekki Phase 1, Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, GRA, Ikeja and Federal Housing Authority (FHA) field in Festac.

“This march is more like a carnival and the Obidients in Lagos are gearing up in large numbers to show their support for the Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed presidential ticket.

“Also, plans have been made to have buses transport Obidients to and from their locations and the bus pickup points will be released on social media,” Ademuyiwa said.

In addition, Ademuyiwa noted that the rally is constitutional and within the legal electoral time frame and calendar of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He also noted that all security agencies across the country have been duly notified through the appropriate channels.

“The police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Department of State Services (DSS) will be on the ground to provide security,” said Ademuyiwa.

Benin City, in Edo, Bauchi in Bauchi State, Kaduna in Kaduna State and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State also supporters stage their rallies in support of the ObiDatti ticket in the 2023 General Elections.