The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded the immediate release of five men reportedly arrested in Borno State for wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “Tinubu Must Go.”
Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
He urged the authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the detainees, grant them access to their families and lawyers, and release them if the political slogan was the reason for their arrest.
The five men were reportedly arrested in Maiduguri on September 25 and subsequently arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court on allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, breach of public peace and thuggery.
They pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The court is expected to rule on their bail application on October 6, while October 26 has been fixed for further proceedings in the substantive case.
Reacting to the arrests, Atiku questioned the basis for detaining citizens over a political slogan, arguing that “Tinubu Must Go” was an expression of political opinion rather than a threat or weapon.
READ ALSO: Five Men Charged After Wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts In Maiduguri
He said Nigerians should be free to express opposition to the government and demand political change without facing detention for doing so.
Atiku also drew a parallel between the arrests and President Bola Tinubu’s opposition to the removal of the petrol subsidy under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.
He recalled that Tinubu was among prominent political figures who criticised Jonathan’s fuel policy and joined the protests that followed the subsidy removal.
The ADC presidential candidate argued that the same freedom to criticise government policy should apply to Nigerians who oppose Tinubu’s administration.
“Tinubu was free to tell Jonathan that his policies were hurting Nigerians. Nigerians must be free to tell Tinubu that his policies are hurting them,” Atiku said.
He also criticised the economic hardship facing Nigerians, citing the rising cost of food, transportation, electricity and fuel.
Atiku consequently called on the authorities to release the five men if their detention was based on their display of the political slogan.
The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures and groups increasingly challenging the policies and leadership of the Tinubu administration.