Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has condemned the arrest of activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, describing it as both a miscarriage of justice and an abuse of state power. Obi’s reaction came after Sowore was detained on Thursday, just hours after voluntarily honouring an invitation from the Nigerian Police Force.
Expressing deep concern, Obi said there had been no credible or clear charges made public at the time of the arrest, a development he described as troubling and politically suspicious. He noted that Sowore’s willingness to appear before law enforcement without resistance made his detention both unjustifiable and high-handed.
“To detain a citizen who came of his own accord, without the public disclosure of lawful charges, is not only a miscarriage of justice but also a blatant abuse of state power,” Obi declared. Quoting the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, he stressed that justice in any state begins in the hearts and souls of its citizens, warning that when those in authority act unjustly, they poison both the legal system and the moral conscience of the nation.
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Obi urged the Nigerian Police to either release Sowore immediately or formally charge him in accordance with the law, cautioning that anything less would further erode public trust in law enforcement institutions. He called on all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, to stand united in defending the rule of law and protecting the rights of citizens.
Sowore, a well-known pro-democracy activist, has a long history of clashes with authorities over his outspoken criticism of government policies. His latest arrest has already sparked outrage among rights groups and democracy advocates, with many accusing the state of weaponizing law enforcement to silence dissent.
Obi’s statement adds to the growing pressure on the police to justify Sowore’s detention, setting the stage for yet another high-profile battle over human rights, justice, and the abuse of state power in Nigeria’s political landscape.