Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the detention and trial of activist Omoyele Sowore, describing it as part of a broader effort by the Bola Tinubu-led administration to stifle dissent.
Atiku dismissed the charges against Sowore as “baseless” and accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, along with the Tinubu government, of orchestrating a systematic campaign to intimidate and silence opposition figures.
In a post on his X handle on Thursday, Atiku stated that the ongoing prosecution of Sowore was just another example of the administration’s pattern of suppressing opposing voices. He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of focusing its efforts on harassing and dismantling the opposition, with the ultimate goal of establishing a one-party state.
The former vice president further lamented that Sowore was not the only target of the administration’s crackdown. He noted that other vocal critics, including Professor Usman Yusuf, had also faced government repression.
“When I sounded the alarm that Tinubu and the APC were using state power to harass, intimidate, and dismantle the opposition, I became the target of vicious attacks,” Atiku said.
He continued, “The arrest and baseless prosecution of Sowore is the latest chapter in this unrelenting campaign. Now, they have added Professor Usman Yusuf — another outspoken critic of this administration — to their list. At the rate they are going, it won’t be long before they attempt to silence everyone who dares to speak out.”
Sowore, known for his fierce criticism of past and present governments, has frequently been arrested and faced legal battles over his activism and demands for accountability.
Recently, Chronicles Reporters reported that Justice Musa Suleiman Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to the former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate. Sowore was granted bail set at N10 million, requiring one surety of the same amount.
The court further stipulated that the surety must own verifiable landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, Sowore was ordered to surrender his passport to the court and submit an affidavit of means.
Although he was initially expected to meet the bail conditions within a specified period, the court later granted him a 24-hour extension to fulfill the requirements.
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