Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed “deep concern” over the news of the remand of citizen activist, Omoyele Sowore, in Kuje Prison.
Sowore, an activist and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, was ordered to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, by a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) pending the hearing and determination of his motion to stay the order revoking his bail and bench warrant.
In an X post, Mr. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, however, questioned the remand order, pointing out that “while the judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of justice, we must consistently guard against any trend that gives the appearance of state institutions being weaponised to systematically stifle dissent, muzzle the press, or shrink the legitimate space for civic engagement in Nigeria.”
Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) said further that: “A thriving democracy does not survive on the silencing of opposing voices; rather, it is anchored on the robust protection of fundamental human rights, most notably the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, as enshrined in our Constitution. Moreover, our society is already strained by insecurity and biting economic hardship; therefore, deliberate steps should be taken, even by the courts, to avoid inflaming the situation.
“When we begin to treat citizen critics, activists, and journalists as threats to state survival rather than as partners in building accountability, we signal a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism. Our current challenges, ranging from economic strain to internal security vulnerabilities, require inclusive dialogue and cohesive nation-building, not the incarceration of those who demand a better society.”
He went on to “urge the relevant authorities to ensure that the rule of law is strictly adhered to, that Mr. Sowore’s constitutional rights are fully protected, and that our security and judicial institutions are used solely for the impartial administration of justice,” stressing that: “We cannot build a New Nigeria if we continue to undermine the very democratic structures meant to protect us all.”
