Former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has issued a strong condemnation of the recent detention of human rights activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore by the Nigerian Police Force, describing the arrest as “a miscarriage of justice” and “an abuse of state power.”
In a statement shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding Sowore’s detention, which occurred shortly after the activist voluntarily honored a police invitation. Obi emphasized that no clear or credible charges have been made public, raising serious questions about the motivation and legality of the arrest.
“To detain a citizen who came of his own accord, without the public disclosure of clear, lawful charges, is not only a miscarriage of justice but an abuse of state power,” Obi stated.
Quoting the ancient philosopher Plato, Obi underscored the moral implications of unjust governance: “Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.”
Obi warned that such actions by law enforcement risk eroding public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions and legal framework. He called on the Nigerian Police to either release Sowore immediately or formally charge him in accordance with the law.
“When those entrusted with power act unjustly, they poison not only the legal order but the moral conscience of the nation,” he said.