His arrest is intended to silence dissenting voices – Timi Frank calls for Sowore’s release

Timi Frank, the former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, has called for the immediate release of activist and presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Frank described Sowore’s arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) as a national disgrace and a dangerous assault on democracy.

The Daily Post reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Sowore’s remand at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.

Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed Sowore’s motion for the judge’s recusal over alleged bias and adjourned the stay of execution until June 24.

Frank responded that Sowore has committed no offense that would justify arrest or detention.

He alleged that the arrest is politically motivated and part of a broader federal government agenda to intimidate opposition figures and others who criticize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

According to Frank, the continued deployment of security agencies against dissenting voices indicates that the government is becoming increasingly intolerant of criticism and democratic opposition.

“The arrest of Omoyele Sowore is a disgrace and a show of shame by the DSS. It is nothing but political victimisation and a desperate attempt to intimidate opposition leaders and silence voices of dissent in the country,” Frank said.

“Sowore has not committed any offense. He merely exercised his constitutional right to speak on issues affecting Nigerians. If the government disagrees with his views, it should respond with facts and good governance, not harassment and intimidation,” he added.