Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned in strong terms the arrest of activist and publisher, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigerian Police Force.
In a statement released on Thursday, A4g4st 7, 2*25, Mr. Obi expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding Sowore’s detention, noting that the activist had voluntarily honoured a police invitation before being taken into custody. As of the time of his statement, no specific or credible charges had been made public.
Mr. Obi described the development as troubling and symptomatic of a broader disregard for due process and the rule of law. “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,” he said.
He further argued that there appeared to be no urgent cause or risk of escape to justify what he termed “high-handed treatment” of the activist, describing the arrest as both “a miscarriage of justice” and “an abuse of state power.”
Quoting the Greek philosopher Plato, Obi reminded authorities that, “Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.” He warned that when those entrusted with power act unjustly, they endanger both the legal system and the nation’s moral fabric.
Calling for Sowore’s immediate release, Obi urged the Nigerian Police to either charge him formally under the law or release him without delay. “Anything short of this,” he warned, “would be a further erosion of public trust in the nation’s law enforcement institutions.”
He concluded by emphasising the principle of equality before the law, stating that the rule of law must apply to all citizens, regardless of ideology, background, or political affiliation.
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