Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has condemned the remand of the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered Sowore’s remand pending the hearing and determination of his motion seeking a stay of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
The development follows a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing Sowore of cyberstalking and criminal defamation after he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in a social media post in August 2025.
Sowore is expected to remain in custody until June 24, 2026, when legal proceedings are scheduled to resume.
Reacting to the development on Tuesday, Obi expressed concern, noting that the judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of justice.
However, he stressed the importance of guarding against any trend that creates the impression that state institutions are being weaponised to systematically stifle dissent, muzzle the press, or shrink the legitimate space for civic engagement in Nigeria.
“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 said.
Obi lamented that Nigerian society is already strained by insecurity and biting economic hardship and called for deliberate steps, including by the courts, to avoid further inflaming the situation.
He argued that when Nigeria begins to treat critics, activists, and journalists as threats to state survival rather than as partners in promoting accountability, it signals a dangerous slide towards authoritarianism.
Obi emphasised that Nigeria’s 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 further urged the relevant authorities to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law, the full protection of Sowore’s constitutional rights, and the use of security and judicial institutions solely for the impartial administration of justice.
“We cannot build a New Nigeria if we continue to undermine the very democratic structures meant to protect us all,” he added.
