Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of human rights activist and pro-democracy advocate, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigeria Police. Frank described the arrest as a grave assault on Nigeria’s democracy and a violation of constitutional rights guaranteed to all citizens.
In a statement released in Abuja, Frank said the detention of Sowore represents a growing threat to democratic values and signals a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism under the current administration. He maintained that the Nigerian government has no justification for arresting citizens who are peacefully demanding accountability and good governance.
“We strongly condemn this reckless action as an assault on democracy, freedom of speech, and the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Frank stated. “The arrest of Sowore is not only unjustifiable but represents a dangerous slide towards authoritarianism in a country that claims to operate under democratic principles.”
Frank expressed dismay that, in 2025, Nigerians are still being harassed and detained for exercising their basic democratic rights. According to him, the right to protest, assemble, and criticise government actions are essential to a functioning democracy. He noted that suppressing dissent through intimidation and arbitrary arrests betrays the trust of citizens and undermines democratic governance.
Frank, who also serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Sowore and other peaceful protesters arrested in Abuja and across Nigeria. He urged the administration to show genuine commitment to the rule of law and human rights by ending what he described as a culture of fear and intimidation.
He further stated that Nigeria is currently facing serious challenges in security, the economy, and governance, which require constructive leadership rather than repression of dissent. Frank urged the government to redirect its efforts towards addressing the country’s pressing problems instead of clamping down on citizens who speak out.
“It is unbecoming of this administration to intimidate and oppress citizens in a democratic period like this,” Frank said. “We are not under military rule where dissent is a crime. This is supposed to be a democracy that Nigeria is practising, yet under this administration, we are witnessing dictatorship, oppression, and suppression of free speech.”
Frank warned that such actions have damaged Nigeria’s image internationally and made it difficult for the global community to take the government seriously. He criticised the government’s focus on silencing critics while insecurity, banditry, and corruption continue to worsen across the country.
He argued that the country’s security agencies should prioritise the fight against criminal elements rather than arresting peaceful demonstrators. “There are so many serious security issues in the country,” he said. “We expect our security agencies to channel their energy towards arresting bandits, criminals, and Boko Haram members, not innocent citizens who are peacefully protesting against bad governance.”
According to him, if the government fulfilled its campaign promises and governed justly, there would be no reason for citizens to protest. He described the repeated arrests of peaceful protesters as unacceptable and undemocratic.
Frank called on the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, and the international community, including the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations Human Rights Council, to intervene and pressure the Nigerian government to respect the rights of its citizens.
He cited examples from other democracies, noting that massive protests in countries like the United States were handled without the arrest of peaceful demonstrators. “We saw recently how there were massive protests in America and other parts of the world against Donald Trump’s administration, yet Trump or the American government never tear-gassed or arrested peaceful protesters. That is what true democracy looks like,” he said.
Frank accused the Tinubu administration of becoming increasingly despotic, saying it rewards corrupt officials while harassing ordinary citizens, journalists, and opposition members. He lamented that press freedom has deteriorated and that journalists now face intimidation comparable to conditions under past military regimes.
He also alleged that the government uses intimidation to coerce opposition politicians into joining the ruling party. “They intimidate and oppress members of the opposition political parties, forcing people to join their party or face arrest and prosecution,” Frank added.
In conclusion, Timi Frank appealed once again to the international community to intervene, stating that Nigerians need global support to end what he described as a worsening climate of repression and human rights violations under the current government. He insisted that democracy in Nigeria can only thrive when citizens are free to speak, protest, and hold their leaders accountable without fear of arrest or persecution.
