Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government to immediately and unconditionally release of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, describing his detention as arbitrary and linked solely to the peaceful exercise of his human rights.
The organisation said Sowore is being held for expressing his views and criticising public officials, which it noted are protected under both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The call comes after the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, ordered the Sahara Reporters publisher’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre on Monday.
In a brief ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered that Sowore be held in custody pending the hearing and determination of his motion seeking a stay of execution of the order revoking his bail and the accompanying bench warrant.
Amnesty International expressed concern over what it described as a broader pattern of shrinking civic space in Nigeria, including intimidation and harassment of activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.
It warned that Sowore’s continued detention could undermine freedoms of expression, association, and civic participation, while also creating a chilling effect on civil society and the media.
The organisation stressed that freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic governance, adding that public officials must be open to criticism without resorting to arrests or detention.
It further argued that the use of the criminal justice system to target peaceful expression discourages public participation, weakens civic space, and erodes confidence in the rule of law.
Amnesty International therefore urged Nigerian authorities to drop what it described as baseless charges against Sowore and ensure full compliance with fair trial standards and due process guarantees.
It also called on the government to refrain from using legal or administrative measures to intimidate or silence critics, insisting that no one should be deprived of liberty for peacefully exercising their rights.