The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has reacted to the remand of activist Omoyele Sowore at the Kuje Correctional Centre, describing the development as troubling and a potential setback for Nigeria’s democratic values.
Sowore was remanded on Monday by the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar. The order followed proceedings in which the court directed that the activist remain in custody pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier ruling that revoked his bail.
The court also dismissed an application seeking the judge’s recusal over allegations of bias.
Reacting in a statement shared on Tuesday, Obi warned that the development reflects what he called a “dangerous regression for democracy” and urged caution in the handling of civic and political freedoms.
He said, “Sowore being sent to prison: A dangerous regression for democracy. I have received, with deep concern, the news of the court’s remand of citizen activist Omoyele Sowore in Kuje Prison.”
Obi stressed that while the judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of justice, institutions must avoid actions that could appear to suppress dissent or weaken civic space.
He added, “While the judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of justice, we must consistently guard against any trend that gives the appearance of state institutions being weaponised to systematically stifle dissent, muzzle the press, or shrink the legitimate space for civic engagement in Nigeria.”
The former Anambra State governor argued that democracy must be rooted in the protection of fundamental rights, particularly freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
According to him, “A thriving democracy does not survive on the silencing of opposing voices; rather, it is anchored on the robust protection of fundamental human rights, most notably the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, as enshrined in our Constitution.”
Obi further cautioned that growing pressure on civic space could deepen public distrust in government institutions amid ongoing economic hardship and insecurity.
He stated, “Moreover, our society is already strained by insecurity and biting economic hardship; therefore, deliberate steps should be taken, even by the courts, to avoid inflaming the situation.”
He also warned against treating critics as enemies of the state, insisting that accountability should not be criminalised.
He said, “When we begin to treat citizen critics, activists, and journalists as threats to state survival rather than as partners in building accountability, we signal a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism.”
The case has continued to generate reactions from civil society groups, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which also criticised Sowore’s detention, arguing that it undermines fundamental human rights and the right to peaceful expression.