Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, has condemned the government of President Bola Tinubu following his arrest and release by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on Sunday.
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, was detained at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos when he arrived in the country.
Reports indicate that Sowore’s arrest was part of a broader directive issued by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Days before, the DSS had declared Sowore wanted in connection to his involvement in the recent 10-day protests under the banner of #EndBadGovernance.
The new head of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi, had instructed security and immigration officers to detain Sowore as soon as he landed in Nigeria.
Following his detention, Sowore’s passport was confiscated by the NIS, an act that he responded to via his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). In his post, Sowore stated that he anticipated the arrest, calling it a predictable move by the government.
He described the situation as a part of the “fascist Bola Tinubu’s regime” and their crackdown on opposition voices. He also mentioned that the government was particularly fearful of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt, an event likely aimed at continuing protests against the administration.
