…says Enugu Crowd Control Bill Could Silence Citizens
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has voiced strong concerns over the proposed Enugu State Crowd Control and Management Bill, 2026, sponsored by Hon. Chima Obieze.
While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to safeguard lives during large gatherings, RULAAC warned that the bill could undermine constitutional freedoms if it makes government approval a prerequisite for peaceful assembly.
“Public safety legislation must not become a means of subjecting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly to prior governmental permission or excessive executive control,” said Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of RULAAC.
The advocacy group cited Section 40 of Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to freely assemble, and referenced the landmark Inspector-General of Police v. ANPP case, where the Court of Appeal rejected police permission as a precondition for rallies.
RULAAC expressed particular concern about reports that the bill would regulate gatherings of more than 100 people, requiring organisers to obtain clearance from an agency led by gubernatorial appointees.
“If the Bill makes government approval or a permit a condition for holding a peaceful gathering, this would raise a fundamental constitutional problem,” Nwanguma warned.
The organisation argued that such a low threshold could subject routine events — including weddings, funerals, religious services, and community meetings — to extensive regulation. It also cautioned against concentrating broad enforcement powers in an agency controlled by the executive, especially ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Legislation affecting freedom of assembly must be drafted with exceptional care to prevent selective enforcement, political interference or the perception that public-safety regulation is being used to constrain opposition or civic activity,” RULAAC stated.
The group called on the Enugu State House of Assembly to publish the full text of the bill and hold an open, inclusive public hearing. It urged civil society, the Nigerian Bar Association, political parties, religious institutions, and community organisations to scrutinise the proposal.
“Public safety and fundamental rights are not competing objectives. Enugu State can protect people attending large gatherings without acquiring the power to determine whether citizens may gather peacefully in the first place,” Nwanguma concluded.
