Atiku Abubakar condemns the arrest of activist Omoyele Sowore, calling it a shameful act and an assault on democracy under the Tinubu administration

Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest of activist Omoyele Sowore by the police, describing it as a shameful act and a grave assault on Nigeria’s democracy.

Also read: Omoyele Sowore arrest sparks outrage at Abuja court

The former Vice President, in a statement on Thursday, said the incident reflects the Tinubu administration’s intolerance for dissent and disregard for the rule of law.

Sowore was arrested at the Federal High Court complex in Abuja shortly after appearing for detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the activist would be arraigned within 24 hours.

Atiku Abubakar said he was “shocked and disappointed, but not surprised” by the arrest, noting that such repression shows how the government continues to treat peaceful protest as a crime.

He remarked that it was disheartening that in 2025—decades after Nigeria exited military rule—the government still silences opposing voices rather than engaging them.

“Sowore’s arrest inside a courtroom is a new low, an open assault on democracy and a grave symbol of this administration’s contempt for the rule of law,” Atiku Abubakar stated.

The opposition leader added that the arrest of other peaceful protesters across the country further exposes what he called a persistent pattern of intimidation under the current government.

“Protest is not a crime; it is a constitutional right. I therefore demand the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore and all those arrested during and after the protest,” Atiku Abubakar declared.

He urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to end its harassment of dissenting voices, warning that democracy cannot thrive under a climate of fear and suppression.