The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the alleged harassment of his supporters and demanded the immediate release of campaigner Rilwan Olawale.
Obi described the continued intimidation of his supporters across the country as “disturbing and unacceptable,” citing Olawale’s arrest as the latest incident.
In a statement on Monday, the former Anambra State governor warned against attempts to intimidate Nigerians for supporting candidates of their choice.
“Civility is not weakness. Enough of the harassment of my supporters. Release Rilwan Olawale now,” he said.
Obi accused President Bola Tinubu of undermining democratic principles, alleging that the president was encouraging and facilitating violence.
“President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence,” he said.
He maintained that his campaign remained peaceful and focused on providing Nigerians with an alternative built on competence, accountability, justice and compassion.
“We have chosen the path of peace, not violence; persuasion, not intimidation. However, nobody should mistake our civility for weakness, our restraint for fear, or our commitment to peace for an absence of resolve,” Obi said.
He added that his supporters would not be intimidated into silence or abandon their support for what he described as a possible New Nigeria.
The NDC presidential candidate demanded transparency over Olawale’s arrest, his release, respect for his rights and an end to what he described as politically motivated harassment.
“No government or political party has the right to deny Nigerians the freedom to support a candidate of their choice,” he said.
Obi reiterated his commitment to peaceful political engagement, while pledging to resist attempts to undermine democratic rights through lawful means.
“We will remain peaceful but resolute. We will not resort to violence, but we will stand firmly and lawfully against every attempt to undermine our democratic rights,” he said.
