Sowore’s Arrest a Miscarriage of Justice, Abuse of Power – Peter Obi

Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the arrest and continued detention of activist Omoyele Sowore by the Nigeria Police Force, calling it “a miscarriage of justice and an abuse of state power.”

In a statement on Thursday, Obi expressed concern over Sowore’s detention after he voluntarily honored a police invitation. “I am deeply disturbed to learn of the arrest of Mr. Omoyele Sowore yesterday, shortly after he voluntarily honored an invitation by the Nigerian Police Force,” Obi said.

“At the time of writing, no clear or credible charges have been made public, which further casts a troubling shadow over the nature and motivation behind his detention.”

The former Anambra State governor criticized the arrest as excessive, stating, “His arrest, particularly under circumstances where he presented himself in good faith to law enforcement, should be condemned by all who value justice and due process.”

“From all indications, no urgency or criminal flight risk warranted such high-handed treatment,” he added.

Obi questioned the legality and morality of the detention, saying, “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.”

Quoting Plato, he emphasized, “Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as it first resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.”

“When those entrusted with power act unjustly, they poison not only the legal order but the moral conscience of the nation,” Obi warned.

He demanded immediate action from authorities: “I therefore call on the Nigerian Police to immediately release Omoyele Sowore or charge him formally under the law.”

“Anything short of this would be a further erosion of public trust in the nation’s law enforcement institutions,” he added.

Obi concluded by stressing the importance of equal justice: “It is our collective duty to insist that the rule of law must apply to all citizens, regardless of ideology, background, or political alignment.”