Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has condemned President Bola Tinubu following the re-arrest of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, by security operatives in Abuja.
Sowore, who was earlier arrested for leading a peaceful protest demanding the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, had been granted bail by an Abuja Magistrate Court on Friday. However, moments after his release, he was reportedly re-arrested outside the court premises — a move that sparked widespread outrage.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Timi Frank described the action as a reckless abuse of power and a direct attack on Nigeria’s democracy.
“We strongly condemn this reckless action as an assault on democracy, freedom of speech, and the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
“The arrest of Sowore is unjustifiable and represents a dangerous slide towards authoritarianism in a country that claims to operate under democratic principles.”
Frank stressed that the right to protest and hold government accountable is a vital pillar of any democracy, warning that the government’s use of intimidation and arbitrary arrests betrays the promises of freedom and justice made to Nigerians.
He called on President Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Sowore and other peaceful protesters arrested across the country.
Frank urged the government to channel its energy into solving Nigeria’s economic and social challenges rather than silencing dissenting voices, adding that Tinubu’s administration must show real commitment to the rule of law and respect for human rights.
