- IPAC demands Sowore’s release.
- Detention seen as politically motivated.
- IPAC calls for President’s intervention.
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore, the National Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC) and 2023 presidential candidate, after his recent detention by Nigerian police.
Sowore was arrested on Monday by the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja following an invitation for questioning.
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He was subsequently detained when he could not meet what he described as stringent bail conditions, including the requirement to provide a Grade Level 16 civil servant as a surety.
In a statement released on Wednesday, IPAC, a coalition of political parties, condemned the ongoing detention of Sowore, arguing that it infringes upon his fundamental rights as guaranteed by Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
The council strongly criticized the action, calling it a violation of his rights to freedom of speech and expression.
The statement, signed by IPAC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Chinyere Oge-Kalu, linked Sowore’s detention to his vocal opposition against the extension of the Inspector General of Police’s tenure and his calls for greater accountability in governance.
IPAC suggested that Sowore’s arrest was politically motivated and designed to silence dissent.
The council further warned against the growing tendency to suppress political opposition through arrests and detentions, urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that justice prevails in the case.
IPAC emphasized that such actions not only undermine democracy but also set a dangerous precedent for the future.
In its call for Sowore’s release, IPAC reminded the authorities that freedom of speech is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, one that is essential for a thriving democracy.
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The council stated that any attempt to stifle the expression of differing political views, especially through intimidation or arrest, would be detrimental to Nigeria’s democratic progress.
“It is in the interest of justice, fair play, equity, and good conscience to release the party leader immediately or charge him to court,” the statement read. “Our democracy will flourish only if citizens can express their views without the fear of police arrests, detention, or brutality.”
As the call for Sowore’s release intensifies, the matter has sparked wider debates about the limits of political freedom and the role of law enforcement in a democratic society.
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