Police arrests, detains 2023 presidential candidate

2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested by the Nigerian Police.

He was detained on Wednesday after he honoured an invitation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Sowore, who led the AAC in the 2023 presidential election, reportedly showed up at the Force Headquarters as requested, but was not shown the petition against him or told the name of the petitioner.

The AAC later claimed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was behind the petition.

According to the party, Sowore faced hostile treatment at the station.

Officers allegedly threatened to put him in handcuffs, refused to share details of the case, harassed his lawyers, and attempted to whisk him away in a vehicle without proper explanation.

The AAC insisted the action goes against legal and human rights procedures.

Sowore has long been known for speaking against corruption and abuse of office within the police.

The party said his arrest is a response to his activism and investigative reports exposing misconduct by top police officials.

The AAC accused the current administration of using police resources to target opposition voices.

They described the arrest as a misuse of power and a step against democratic freedom.

The party has now called for nationwide protests and warned that mass action could follow if Sowore is not released soon.