Sowore: Obi, Atiku, NLC, Others Unite Against Police Excesses
…Demand Unconditional Release or Immediate Arraignment
By Ekanem ASUQUO
A wave of outrage has swept across Nigeria’s political and civic space following the arrest of activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigeria Police Force.
From political heavyweights to labour unions, rights groups, and youth movements, voices across the country and beyond are demanding his unconditional release or immediate arraignment in court.
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was among the first to condemn the arrest, describing it as “a miscarriage of justice” and “an abuse of state power.”
He expressed concern that Sowore was detained despite voluntarily honouring a police invitation, warning that such actions erode public trust in law enforcement.
“When those entrusted with power act unjustly, they poison not only the legal order but also the moral conscience of the nation,” Obi said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also blasted the police action, calling it “a shameful abuse of power” and “an attack on civil liberties.”
He insisted that Sowore’s only offense was “speaking truth to power,” and cautioned that silencing dissent is dangerous for democracy.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), through its president Joe Ajaero, warned that the repeated targeting of Sowore is a sign Nigeria could be sliding into authoritarian rule. “If Sowore can be detained without clear charges today, no Nigerian is safe tomorrow,”
Ajaero declared, urging the police to respect constitutional rights and due process.
Civil society groups have also joined the condemnation. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and the Arewa Youth Ambassadors described the arrest as unconstitutional, citing Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees freedom of expression.
The Arewa group went further, issuing a 72-hour ultimatum for Sowore’s release or face mass protests across northern Nigeria.
International attention has also turned to the case, with Amnesty International condemning what it called the “brutalization” of Sowore in police custody, alleging that he sustained a broken hand during a forced transfer.
The rights watchdog demanded his immediate release, access to medical care, and an end to what it termed politically motivated harassment.
A youth civic coalition added its voice, warning that any harm to Sowore while in detention would trigger a nationwide reaction.
“The youth of Nigeria will not remain silent,” the group declared, stressing that the right to dissent is a cornerstone of democracy.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and outspoken critic of successive governments, was taken into custody on Thursday shortly after honouring a police invitation.
At the time of going to press, the police had yet to make public any formal charges against him, fuelling further suspicion about the motive for his arrest.
