The Public Order Act (POA) of 1979 was enacted during Nigeria’s transition from military rule to civilian government, with the stated aim of regulating public assemblies, processions, and demonstrations to maintain peace and public order. At the time of its enactment, the concerns around stability and control during a sensitive political transition. In practice, however, the Act has become one of the most debated pieces of legislation within Nigeria’s democratic framework, largely because several of its provisions sit uneasily alongside contemporary constitutional guarantees and evolving democratic norms...Read More