The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Nigerian police to promptly and unconditionally free Omoyele Sowore, a journalist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), who was allegedly arrested and taken into custody on Thursday.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a strong appeal to the Nigerian Police Force, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore, a well-known journalist, human rights activist, and former presidential candidate under the African Action Congress (AAC). According to reports, Sowore was allegedly arrested and detained on Thursday, sparking widespread condemnation from civil society groups and human rights advocates.
SERAP Condemns Sowore‘s detention
In a statement released on Friday, SERAP condemned the arrest and ongoing detention of Sowore, asserting that his incarceration amounts to a serious violation of his fundamental human rights. The organisation described the action as not only unconstitutional but also in breach of Nigeria’s obligations under regional and international human rights laws.
SERAP stated: “The Nigerian authorities must end all forms of harassment, intimidation, and persecution of Omoyele Sowore simply for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. His arrest and continued detention represent a clear abuse of power and a breach of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a party.”
Sowore’s detention labelled
The organisation further emphasized that Sowore’s detention qualifies as arbitrary imprisonment, which is explicitly prohibited under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both legal instruments, to which Nigeria is a signatory, protect individuals from being unlawfully deprived of their liberty, especially for peacefully expressing dissenting opinions or participating in civil activism.
“These binding legal frameworks affirm that no individual should be subjected to arrest or detention merely for peacefully exercising their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights, such as the right to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to participate in public affairs,” SERAP added.
The organisation went on to urge the Nigerian government to demonstrate respect for the rule of law, uphold constitutional guarantees, and safeguard the civil liberties of all citizens, regardless of their political views or activism. SERAP warned that the continuous repression of non-violent critics and dissidents not only undermines Nigeria’s democratic values but also erodes public trust in government institutions.
Omoyele Sowore has been a recurring figure in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement and a vocal critic of successive governments. Over the years, he has faced multiple arrests, court cases, and restrictions on his movement — incidents that have often been linked to his uncompromising stance on government accountability, anti-corruption advocacy, and calls for systemic political reforms.
SERAP concluded its statement by calling on the Nigerian authorities to drop all existing charges against Sowore, ensure his immediate release, and put an end to the unjust criminalisation of peaceful political activism in the country.
