₦airaland Forum

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who is currently in detention.

The demand was issued by the NLC National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a strongly-worded statement released late Wednesday. The union expressed deep concern over what it described as “unending and arbitrary arrests” of the activist, who has been a vocal critic of the government. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Sowore was detained by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit in Abuja on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, after honoring a police invitation over a petition alleging forgery and incitement. However, as of the time of filing this report, the identity of the petitioner and the content of the petition have not been disclosed publicly.
NLC Condemns Growing Culture of Suppression

In its statement, the NLC strongly condemned what it described as an emerging pattern of suppression of civil liberties, especially targeting individuals critical of those in power.

“If Sowore has offended any powerful person in or outside government, the right thing to do is to seek redress through legal means — not through harassment or unlawful detention,” Ajaero stated.

He questioned the frequency of Sowore’s arrests in recent times, asking, “How many times has Sowore been arrested this year alone?”

The labour union emphasized that freedom of speech and association are fundamental rights protected under the Nigerian constitution and should never be violated for political convenience.

“It is dangerous when the state begins to criminalize dissent or detain individuals arbitrarily. Today it is Sowore; tomorrow, it could be a journalist, a trade unionist, or an ordinary citizen,” the statement warned.

Nigeria Must Not Return to Dictatorship, NLC Warns

The NLC noted that the current actions of the government could undermine democracy, stating that a democratic government must respect the rule of law and constitutional liberties, no matter how uncomfortable those freedoms may be.

“We must not return to the dark days of dictatorship, where citizens lived in fear, and every voice of dissent was crushed with brute force,” the NLC asserted.

According to the union, detaining Sowore without due process “tarnishes the country’s image” both locally and internationally, and sets a dangerous precedent for future civic engagement.
Demands and Solidarity

The labour body concluded by making the following demands:

Immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore

An end to harassment and intimidation of activists, journalists, and dissenting voices

Full compliance with the rule of law and constitutional rights

The NLC reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of workers, civil society, and oppressed Nigerians, urging all well-meaning citizens to resist the gradual slide into authoritarianism.

“A strong justice system and vibrant democracy benefit everyone,” Ajaero concluded.

eyesoflagos:
https://eyesoflagos.com/enough-of-the-harassment-nlc-demands-immediate-release-of-sowore/

cc: Mynd44 , Nlfpmod , Seun

mannobi:
Sowore lacks tact. He's own activism is more like agbero speaking English. Everything is not gragra

eyesoflagos:
However, as of the time of filing this report, the identity of the petitioner and the content of the petition have not been disclosed publicly.
NLC Condemns Growing Culture of Suppression

https://eyesoflagos.com/enough-of-the-harassment-nlc-demands-immediate-release-of-sowore/

mannobi:
Sowore lacks tact. He's own activism is more like agbero speaking English. Everything is not gragra

mannobi:
Sowore lacks tact. He's own activism is more like agbero speaking English. Everything is not gragra

mannobi:
Sowore lacks tact. He's own activism is more like agbero speaking English. Everything is not gragra

mannobi:
Sowore lacks tact. He's own activism is more like agbero speaking English. Everything is not gragra

penearth:
Is this not a sectional fighting scheme? A man from d south east was detained for freedom fighting yet no pressure group has made any attempt for its release. Is this part of "one Nigeria"?

eyesoflagos:
https://eyesoflagos.com/enough-of-the-harassment-nlc-demands-immediate-release-of-sowore/

OkayDaddy:
You that don't lack tact, what have you done with your life?
How much change have you influenced within your small community?

mannobi:
Sowore lacks tact. He's own activism is more like agbero speaking English. Everything is not gragra

mannobi:
Sowore lacks tact. He's own activism is more like agbero speaking English. Everything is not gragra

FreeStuffsNG:
Mr Sowore made and published a very serious and existential allegations against a woman police officer and released her information to the public against what a competent legal advice would have recommended to a journalist then the woman petitioned the IG. https://www.nairaland.com/8493394/police-break-sowores-hand-move#136382335

The identity of the petitioner has even been published by Sowore on his Saharareporters.com so , this reporter and/or Mr Ajaero is not even knowledgeable on the issue.

What if the woman is actually innocent of the serious allegation? Should her life, career, marriage, family and her children forever continue to suffer the injustice and burden of a false allegation which Mr Sowore walk around free? Haba nah.The only infallible one is God o.

The name of the woman and her personal data should have been withheld in the report if Sowore had sought and followed competent legal advice before publishing the story and that story would still have had impact.

Does Sowore now has immunity against allegation of crime or what?
Same law that protects him and the woman is what the woman is invoking against him.

Obidient Mr Ajaero has started again after losing LP to Abure . Smh.

mannobi:
Sowore lacks tact. He's own activism is more like agbero speaking English. Everything is not gragra