Following the arrest of pro-democracy activist Omoyele Sowore by the Nigeria Police Force, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and the Arewa Youth Ambassadors have both called for his immediate and unconditional release.
In separate statements on Thursday, both organisations strongly condemned the arrest, describing it as a violation of Sowore’s constitutional rights and a blatant abuse of police power.
Peter Ameh, National Secretary of CUPP, emphasised that the detention breaches Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and opinion. He criticised the police for transforming from protectors of citizens into instruments of oppression, demanding full accountability.
“We strongly condemn the arrest of Omoyele Sowore by the Nigerian Police, an act that flouts Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and share ideas without interference,” Ameh said.
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“This arrest is not only unjust but also a disturbing misuse of police power, turning an institution meant to protect Nigerians into a tool for oppression and personal vendettas. It is a blatant abuse of power and an affront to the principles of justice and accountability enshrined in the constitution.”
Likewise, the Arewa Youth Ambassadors, led by National Coordinator Yahaya Abdullahi, issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding Sowore’s release. The group warned that failure to comply would spark protests across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The organisation alleged that Sowore’s arrest is part of a wider pattern of harassment aimed at silencing dissent, accusing state institutions of being misused to suppress opposition voices. They cautioned that ongoing clampdowns risk eroding Nigeria’s democratic values and civic freedoms.
The statement further called on all progressive groups, civil society organisations, student unions, labour movements, and the wider public to unite against the rising tide of tyranny and abuse of power.
They affirmed, “Nigeria belongs to us all, and no government has the right to crush dissent in a democratic society.”
