Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised the arrest of activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigerian Police Force, calling it an abuse of state power and a violation of due process.
In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, Obi expressed deep concern that Sowore was detained shortly after voluntarily honouring a police invitation. He noted that, as of the time of his statement, no clear or credible charges had been made public, which he described as troubling and suspicious.
“His arrest, particularly under circumstances where he presented himself in good faith to law enforcement, should be condemned by all who value justice and due process,” Obi said, stressing that there appeared to be no urgency or risk of flight that could justify such “high-handed” treatment.
Quoting the ancient philosopher Plato, Obi warned that unjust actions by those in authority undermine both the legal order and the moral conscience of the nation.
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He called on the Nigerian Police to either immediately release Sowore or charge him formally under the law, warning that any other course of action would further erode public trust in law enforcement institutions.
“It is our collective duty to insist that the rule of law must apply to all citizens — regardless of ideology, background, or political alignment,” Obi concluded.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and prominent government critic, has faced multiple arrests in recent years over his activism and public commentary.