End persecution of political opponents, Peter Obi tells FG

Obi

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has called on the federal government to end what he described as the persecution of political opponents under the guise of criminal prosecution.

In a statement on Monday, Obi warned that the rule of law in Nigeria must remain sacrosanct, stressing that weakening legal institutions would undermine economic progress and threaten the country’s stability.

He expressed concern over the recent arrests and continued detention of two leaders of the African Democracy Congress (ADC) —former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

According to him, the timing of their arrests, which followed their political commitment to ensure the current administration is voted out in 2027, raises serious concerns.

Obi said the circumstances surrounding their arrests appear inconsistent with the principles of the rule of law.

He noted that prosecutorial decisions should be based strictly on credible evidence and probable cause, presented transparently and without political motives.

He added that the refusal to grant bail or the imposition of excessive bail conditions suggests that criminal prosecution may be used as a tool against political opponents.

He also highlighted the case of El-Rufai, describing the situation as particularly troubling. Obi said the former governor’s repeated movement between the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS indicates what appears to be an attempt to find any charge that could be sustained, warning that such actions risk turning investigations into a fishing expedition rather than a legitimate legal process.

Obi stressed that Nigeria needs a justice system that gives citizens confidence that they will not face persecution for their political views or for actions that those in power may disagree with. He said criminal trials must strictly follow established legal standards.