Presidential Candidates Sowore, Hashim, Adebayo Demand Nnamdi Kanu, Maisango’s Release, End To Political ‘Persecution’
Presidential Candidates Sowore, Hashim, Adebayo Demand Nnamdi Kanu, Maisango’s Release, End To Political ‘Persecution’
They called for an immediate review of cases involving Nigerians imprisoned over political expression, self-determination advocacy or the peaceful exercise of constitutionally protected rights.
The presidential candidates of the Accord Party, African Action Congress (AAC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), namely Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Omoyele Sowore and Adewole Adebayo, have demanded the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu and Bichia Maisango.
The three opposition candidates made the demand after a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the weekend, where they discussed Nigeria’s democracy, economy and security.
They called for an immediate review of cases involving Nigerians imprisoned over political expression, self-determination advocacy or the peaceful exercise of constitutionally protected rights.
They specifically demanded the release of Kanu, whose agitation has centred on the political rights and aspirations of the Igbo people, and Maisango, whom they described as an advocate of Hausa Zallah cultural rights.
The three leaders also called for an end to what they described as the legal and political persecution of Sowore over his political activities.
They, however, stressed that their position did not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the views or methods of the individuals concerned.
“Democratic societies must accommodate dissent and peaceful disagreement,” they said.
The call came as the three presidential candidates announced plans to work together towards building a common democratic force ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
They expressed concern over what they described as the weakening of democratic institutions and shrinking space for political competition in Nigeria.
The opposition leaders also called on the international community, democratic governments, regional institutions and international democracy and human-rights organisations to closely monitor Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.
They alleged that individuals within the security architecture, electoral institutions, judiciary, legislature and executive were attempting to weaken opposition parties, manipulate public institutions and frustrate genuine political competition.
While rejecting foreign interference in Nigeria’s sovereign affairs, the candidates called for accountability where public office holders or institutional authorities abuse their powers to undermine constitutional democracy.
They urged international partners to document credible evidence of democratic reversals and consider targeted sanctions, including visa restrictions and other lawful measures, against individuals credibly established to have participated in such activities.
“Nigeria’s multi-party democracy must be preserved. No individual, political party, security agency, electoral official or institution is bigger than the Nigerian Constitution,” they declared.
The candidates also criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and currency devaluation, blaming the measures for worsening living costs, declining purchasing power, unemployment and economic hardship.
They called for salary reviews towards a genuine living wage, stronger domestic production, increased investment, job creation and measures to curb inflation.
Meanwhile, the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR) for the South-South and South-East zones was launched on Saturday in Port Harcourt, with participants calling for unity to “rescue” Nigeria.
The MDR is co-chaired by Hashim and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero.
NLC leaders and leaders of industrial unions gathered at the NLC Labour House in Port Harcourt to deliberate on what they described as a fundamental national question: how to rescue Nigeria’s democracy and restore hope to millions of Nigerians.
Hashim, who is co-chairman of the movement, said Nigeria had always been a great country but that recent leaders had conspired to make it small.
According to him, “the prosperity in Nigeria continued until 1976 and Nigeria was a lender, not a borrowing nation.”
“Today, industrialisation has gone out of Nigeria,” he said.
Hashim added: “But we must rescue our democracy. Any democracy that abandons the welfare of the workers is a mirage.”
Also speaking, Adebayo urged Nigerians to reject intimidation and political pressure ahead of the 2027 elections.
“All workers must vote, because our problem is that our leaders today see themselves as colonial masters in black skin,” he said.
Adebayo also stressed the importance of ideological unity, saying, “Unity is important. For people, we can only be united by ideology. You must raise cadres not for protest alone, but for government.”
Representing Ajaero at the event, Comrade Denja Yakub said Nigerians could not depend on others to rescue the country.
“Nobody will fight for us. We need to fight for ourselves,” he said.
He added: “There will never be industry for us if we don’t have worker-friendly people in power.”
NLC chairmen from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states attended the event, alongside leaders of industrial unions, civil society and faith-based organisations.
