Opposition figure Peter Obi has strongly criticised the remand of activist Omoyele Sowore in Kuje prison, describing the move as a dangerous regression for democracy.
Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, issued the statement on Tuesday following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on Monday that ordered Sowore’s detention pending further proceedings in a cybercrime case.
The court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, also rejected an application for the judge’s recusal over alleged bias. Sowore, a prominent human rights activist and publisher, had his bail revoked earlier.
In a strongly worded reaction, Obi expressed deep concern over what he sees as the weaponisation of state institutions against dissent.
“Sowore being sent to prison: A dangerous regression for democracy,” he said. “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 emphasised the importance of protecting fundamental rights in a thriving democracy.
“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,” he added.
He warned that such actions could deepen public distrust amid existing economic hardship and insecurity.
“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,” Obi stated.98639d
“We cannot build a New Nigeria if we continue to undermine the very democratic structures meant to protect us all,” he said.
