AAC candidate Sowore criticises Tinubu administration over DSS arrest of Atiku supporter

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), has levelled serious accusations against the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The criticism follows the recent arrest and subsequent arraignment of Mubarak Abdullahi, a supporter of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Sowore alleges that the government is utilising the Department of State Services (DSS) to silence political critics and suppress dissenting voices within the country.

The incident in question involves Abdullahi, who is also known by the alias Sardaunan Samari. He was taken into custody after sharing a document on his Facebook page. The document was purported to be a letter written by President Tinubu addressed to the President of the United States. Abdullahi accompanied the post with the caption, “ATIKU IS COMING.” In response to the arrest, Sowore took to the social media platform X to question the deployment of national security agencies for political purposes, arguing that such bodies should not be used to target citizens who express opposition to the government.

Background

The Department of State Services has formally filed a three-count charge against Abdullahi at the Federal High Court in Kaduna. The charges relate to offences bordering on cybercrime and defamation. According to the official account of the case, Abdullahi admitted to sharing the document in question and offered an apology. Despite this admission, he was remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna, where he remains in custody.

Sowore’s reaction highlights a broader tension between the current administration and opposition figures. By describing the arrest as “sad,” the AAC candidate suggested that the government is afraid to face the Nigerian public and account for its record. The use of the DSS, a national security agency, for what Sowore characterised as sweeping up dissenting voices has drawn significant attention to the legal and political implications of the case.

Why it matters

This case has significant implications for freedom of expression and the role of security agencies in Nigeria’s political landscape. Sowore warned that those responsible for the arrest would eventually be held accountable, stating that a day of reckoning is approaching. The incident affects not only Abdullahi but also serves as a precedent for how the government handles online criticism and political dissent. For supporters of Atiku Abubakar and other opposition groups, the arrest signals a potential crackdown on vocal critics, raising concerns about the safety of political speech in the lead-up to future electoral processes.

The involvement of the DSS in a case involving a shared social media post has intensified debates over the boundaries of national security and civil liberties. While the government has pursued legal avenues through the Federal High Court, opposition figures like Sowore view the action as an overreach designed to intimidate rather than inform. The outcome of the trial will be closely watched by human rights advocates and political observers alike.

What happens next

Abdullahi is currently remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna while the legal proceedings continue. The Federal High Court in Kaduna will hear the three-count charge filed by the DSS. No specific trial date has been announced in the available information, but the case is expected to proceed through the judicial system. The political fallout, however, is immediate, with Sowore and other opposition figures continuing to voice their objections to the handling of the case.