The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has faulted the remand in prison of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered Mr Sowore’s remand in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, until Wednesday during scheduled hearing and determination of his motion to stay an order revoking his bail and bench warrant.
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Mr Sowore, who is also an activist and the presidential candidate of African Action Congress, is being prosecuted by the State Security Service for allegedly referring to President Bola Tinubu in an X post as “a criminal.”
‘Dangerous regression for democracy’
Reacting in an X post on Tuesday, Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, described Mr Sowore’s remand in prison as a “dangerous regression” for Nigeria’s democracy.
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The NDC candidate argued that a “thriving democracy” does not survive on the silencing of opposing voices, but anchored on protection of fundamental human rights, especially the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly in line with the country’s 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,” he said.
The politician warned that the judiciary must guard against being weaponised by the government in power to stifle dissent voices.
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“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,” he stated.
Continuing, the former governor said: “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.
READ ALSO: ‘I won’t retract my words,’ Kenneth Okonkwo replies Peter Obi’s N5bn lawsuit threat
“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.”
Mr Obi urged Nigerian authorities to ensure that the rule of law was strictly adhered to, and that Mr Sowore’s constitutional rights were protected to avoid the perception that the country’s security and judicial institutions were partial.
“We cannot build a New Nigeria if we continue to undermine the very democratic structures meant to protect us all,” he said.
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