BY Ahmad Sahabi
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has condemned what he described as the “silent arrest” of his supporters by security operatives.
Obi said this on Tuesday in a series of tweets on his verified Twitter handle.
On Saturday, there were reports on social media that officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly arrested Joseph Onuorah who flew in from France to attend the October 1 rally organised by Obi’s supporters in Lagos.
Onurah was said to be one of the coordinators of the ‘four-million-people’ rally.
By afternoon on Saturday, Onurah had announced his release, saying he was detained by a “coalition of security forces” for 16 hours.
There were also social media reports alleging that some Obi supporters were assaulted for displaying emblems of LP.
In what appears to be a reference to the incidents, the LP presidential candidate asked federal and state agencies to respect civil liberties.
“Elections are not deemed free and fair when a certain group employs the tool of intimidation to ensure that the opposition is silenced, both at the campaigns and at the polls,” Obi said.
“Peaceful assembly and unfettered electioneering campaigns are constitutionally guaranteed. Both and other ordered liberties cannot be breached wilfully by security agents.
“Recent reports of OBIdients being silently arrested by some security agents is extremely disturbing and condemnable.
“We must ensure that everyone is given a level playing field in the forthcoming elections, and that no eligible Nigerian, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation is disenfranchised, more so through violence and intimidation.
“I call on the federal and state agencies to remind their operatives on the need to respect civil liberties.”
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