Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strong condemnation following the arrest of prominent human rights activist Omoyele Sowore by Nigerian police, calling the incident “a new low” and “an open assault on democracy.”
Sowore, a well-known activist and publisher, was reportedly arrested inside a courtroom, along with several other citizens who were participating in peaceful protests across different parts of the country.
In a statement released Thursday, Abubakar expressed dismay at the government’s handling of peaceful dissent. “I am shocked and disappointed, but not surprised,” he said. “Shocked that in 2025, decades after we defeated military rule, this government still treats dissent as a crime.”
The former presidential candidate, who has been a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, highlighted what he sees as hypocrisy in the government’s approach to protests. “Disappointed because those in power today once thrived on protests,” Abubakar stated, adding that Tinubu “continues to show Nigerians exactly who he is and what he intends to be, if we allow him.”
Abubakar characterised Sowore’s courtroom arrest as particularly egregious, calling it “a grave symbol of this administration’s contempt for the rule of law.” He emphasised that peaceful protest is protected under Nigerian law, stating: “Protest is not a crime; it is a constitutional right.”
The opposition leader has demanded “the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore and all those arrested during and after the protest,” urging the government to “end its persistent harassment of dissenting voices.”
Abubakar concluded his statement with a stark warning: “Democracy cannot coexist with tyranny.”
The arrests come amid growing tensions between the Tinubu administration and civil society activists over issues of governance and civil liberties in Nigeria.
