The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the alleged harassment of his supporters and called for the immediate release of campaigner Rilwan Olawale.
Obi described the alleged intimidation of his supporters across the country as disturbing and unacceptable, saying Olawale’s arrest was the latest incident raising concerns about political freedom and democratic rights in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 26, 2026, the former Anambra State governor warned against attempts to intimidate Nigerians because of their political choices.
“Civility is not weakness. Enough of the harassment of my supporters. Release Rilwan Olawale now,” Obi said.
He also criticised President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of undermining democratic principles by allegedly encouraging and facilitating political violence.
According to Obi, Tinubu, having benefited from Nigeria’s democratic system, should protect democratic values rather than engage in actions that could weaken them.
“President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence,” he stated.
The NDC candidate maintained that his political movement remained committed to peaceful campaigns and was focused on offering Nigerians an alternative based on competence, accountability, justice and compassion.
Obi stressed that his supporters had chosen peaceful engagement over violence and persuasion over intimidation, adding that their commitment to peace should not be mistaken for fear or weakness.
“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,” he said.
He further declared that his supporters would not be intimidated into silence or forced to abandon their political aspirations and support for what he described as the possibility of building a New Nigeria.
The former Anambra governor also demanded transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding Olawale’s arrest, insisting that the campaigner’s rights must be respected and that any politically motivated harassment should end.
Obi emphasised that no government or political party had the right to prevent Nigerians from supporting candidates of their choice.
“No government or political party has the right to deny Nigerians the freedom to support a candidate of their choice,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful political participation, vowing that he and his supporters would resist any attempt to undermine their 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,” Obi added.
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