Akwa Ibom Police arrest Obi-Kwankwaso movement coordinator, tear gas supporters

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has reportedly arrested the state coordinator of the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, Elijah Noah, during an Independence Day march in Uyo.

Noah was reportedly taken into custody by armed police officers on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as supporters of the movement gathered for a planned march in the state capital.

The development occurred amid increased political mobilisation by supporters of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The OK Movement describes itself as a platform supporting the political project involving Obi and Kwankwaso. Noah was identified as its Akwa Ibom coordinator in a campaign structure announced by the movement in September.

A video circulating online and obtained by SaharaReporters showed several armed police officers surrounding Noah before dragging him towards a police vehicle and forcing him inside.

The reason for his arrest was not immediately established.

READ ALSO; NDC, Obi-Kwankwaso camp at odds again over 2027 campaign structures

An X user, Esther Umoh, alleged that Noah was arrested after going to inspect the proposed starting point for the march.

“His only crime was coming to check out the start-off point for the march,” Umoh alleged, while accusing the Akwa Ibom State Government of restricting political activities.

Meanwhile, videos and accounts circulating from Uyo indicated that police fired tear gas as supporters of Peter Obi gathered for the march.

The reported confrontation comes against the backdrop of increased nationwide mobilisation by the OK Movement ahead of the 2027 elections.

The movement recently announced a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council, naming John Ughulu as Director-General and Saadatu Sani as National Secretary. Noah was listed as the movement’s South-South coordinator for Akwa Ibom.

However, the campaign structure has also triggered a dispute with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a September 19 statement, the NDC disowned the campaign council announced by the OK Movement, saying the group was not authorised to constitute or announce a presidential campaign council on behalf of the party.

The party said its formal structures remained the authoritative political structures, while the Obidient and Kwankwasiyyah movements were support groups operating within the broader political framework.

The circumstances surrounding Noah’s arrest, the reported use of tear gas and whether the march had secured the necessary police approval had not been independently established at the time of publication.