Sowore Defends Free Speech Against Tinubu Criticism Arrests

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2027 election, asserted that Nigerians should not face arrest or prosecution for criticizing President Bola Tinubu. During an interview on Arise Television's Prime Time, Sowore emphasized that freedom of expression is a fundamental right in a democratic society.

He stated that calling President Tinubu names does not constitute a criminal offense and criticized any intelligence officer who would order such arrests as acting against democratic principles. Sowore acknowledged that President Tinubu had previously expressed a desire for citizens not to be prosecuted for insulting him, noting that Tinubu himself had a history of making strong political statements.

Sowore maintained that democratic governance requires tolerance of opposing views and allows citizens to express their opinions freely.