Peter Obi speaks out against Sowore's prison remand

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has criticized the decision to remand Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in prison.

The Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Mr Sowore’s remand in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, until Wednesday. This is during a scheduled hearing about his motion to stay an order that revoked his bail.

Mr Sowore, who is also an activist and the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, is facing prosecution by the State Security Service. They allege that he called President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a post on X.

‘Threat to democracy’

In an X post on Tuesday, Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, called Mr Sowore’s remand a “dangerous regression” for Nigeria’s democracy.

He said that a “thriving democracy” cannot grow by silencing opposing voices. It must protect fundamental human rights, especially the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as stated in the country’s constitution.

“Also, our society is already facing insecurity and serious economic hardship. So, we need to take steps, even in the courts, to avoid worsening the situation,” he added.

The politician warned that the judiciary should not be used by the government to silence dissenting voices.

“While the judiciary is the final judge of justice, we must always be careful of any trend that suggests state institutions are being used to silence dissent, control the press, or reduce the space for civic engagement in Nigeria,” he said.

Continuing, the former governor noted, “When we start seeing citizen critics, activists, and journalists as threats instead of partners in accountability, we risk sliding into authoritarianism.

“Our current troubles, from economic hardship to security issues, need open dialogue and unity, not the jailing of those who seek a better society.”

Mr Obi called on Nigerian authorities to follow the rule of law strictly. He demanded that Mr Sowore’s constitutional rights be respected to avoid the belief that the country’s security and judicial systems are biased.

“We cannot create a New Nigeria if we keep undermining the democratic structures meant to protect us all,” he concluded.