Protest Against First Power Will Be Peaceful: Obi Assures Soludo, Police

The key sponsor of the planned rally against First Power in Anambra, Comrade Osita Obi, has told the state police command that the upcoming protest slatted to hold on Saturday in Awka, will be peaceful.

Obi made the statement when he and other organising members visited the state police command to brief officers about the planned rally.

The activist however maintained that
that the only way to stop the planned rally is to arrest him.

Comrade Obi also wrote to the governor Chukwuma Soludo, assuring him that the rally organised under the auspices of the Electricity Consumers Rights Initiative and the Electricity Consumers Rights Network,
would be peaceful and orderly.

In the letter addressed to governor Soludo, Obi urged the authorities to hold him personally responsible in the event of any violent activity during the rally.

According to the organisers, the protest is aimed at compelling First Power to improve electricity supply, stop estimated billing, provide prepaid meters for consumers, and address other related demands.

Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
during the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of Operations, Ibrahim Ezekiel, advised the organisers against proceeding with the rally.

The DCP argued that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums, noting that the security situation in the system is already tense.

However, Obi insisted that he had organised several rallies and protests in the state in the past and none had turned violent. He questioned why the planned rally was being treated differently.

According to Obi, the police should hold him responsible for any outbreak of violence, stressing that ndi Anambra are suffering under the operations of First Power, which he accused of “killing residents with excessive and arbitrary billing.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Anambra State Police, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement issued said the command had appealed to the organisers to embrace dialogue instead of protest.

According to Ikenga: “The Anambra State Police Command today, 9th March 2026, held an hour-long meeting at the Anambra State Police Command Headquarters in Awka with organisers of a planned protest over persistent electricity failure, alleged overestimated billing, and other related complaints tagged ‘Enough Is Enough.’

“During the discussions, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Ibrahim Ezekiel, acknowledged the concerns raised by the group regarding electricity supply and billing issues. He urged the organisers to adopt constructive dialogue and engagement with the relevant authorities responsible for electricity regulation and distribution, rather than resorting to street protests that may disrupt public order.

“The Command emphasised the importance of peaceful and lawful channels in addressing grievances and encouraged stakeholders to pursue institutional means of resolving the issues affecting residents.

“The Anambra State Police Command reassures the public of its commitment to maintaining law and order while promoting peaceful engagement between citizens and relevant authorities.” Ikenga stated.