Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the remand of activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, describing it as a “dangerous regression for democracy” and warning that the growing use of state institutions to suppress dissent risks weakening democratic governance and shrinking the space for legitimate expression in Nigeria. Obi’s remarks, contained in a statement posted on his official X handle on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, came just hours after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Sowore’s remand pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier order that revoked his bail.
The court had on Monday, June 22, dismissed an application seeking the judge’s recusal over allegations of bias and ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The ruling followed the revocation of Sowore’s bail by the same court on June 16, after the activist failed to appear for his scheduled trial, a development that also led to the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest. Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and publisher of Sahara Reporters, is standing trial on a two‑count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a social media post in which he referred to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal”. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In his reaction, Obi expressed deep concern over what he described as an increasing tendency to use judicial processes to silence critics. “Sowore being sent to prison: A dangerous regression for democracy. I have received, with deep concern, the news of the court’s remand of citizen activist Omoyele Sowore in Kuje Prison,” Obi 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.”
The former Anambra State governor stressed that democracy thrives on the protection of fundamental rights rather than the suppression of opposing views. “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 stated. He warned that treating activists, journalists and government critics as threats rather than stakeholders in the democratic process could signal a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism. “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 said.
Obi further cautioned that continued pressure on civic space could deepen public distrust in state institutions, especially at a time when the country is grappling with economic hardship and insecurity. “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. He called on relevant authorities to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law and safeguard Sowore’s constitutional rights, adding that security and judicial institutions should remain impartial in the administration of justice. “We cannot build a New Nigeria if we continue to undermine the very democratic structures meant to protect us all,” he concluded.
The Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also faulted Sowore’s detention, arguing that the activist was being punished for peacefully exercising his constitutional rights, amid growing concerns over judicial independence and shrinking civic space in the country. The case has drawn widespread attention from civil society organisations and human rights advocates, who have warned that the remand of a prominent activist and presidential candidate could have a chilling effect on political participation and free expression ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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