AAC kicks as police arrest Sowore in Abuja

The African Action Congress (AAC) says Omoyele Sowore, a presidential candidate of the party in the 2019 election, has been arrested by the police.

Sowore who had been restricted to the federal capital territory (FCT) following a court order in 2019, was said to have been arrested by the police on Thursday.

Femi Adeyeye, publicity secretary of the party, in a statement, said Sowore was picked by the police after attending a court sitting on the current leadership crisis in the party.

“Just after stepping out of the court where the chairman, party leaders and members have converged to witness the party’s case against INEC and usurpers, Mr Omoyele Sowore was arrested and driven away in a gestapo style, very similar to how he was arrested on August 3rd, 2019 by men of the State Security Service,” the statement reads.

“We can, however, confirm that as at the time of releasing this statement, he is currently at the dreaded SARS unit called ‘Abattoir’ and men from that station were the ones who carried out the arrest.

“We are monitoring these events and we can assure all members that these re-occurring illegalities and attacks won’t be allowed to stand. Specific reason(s) for his arrest remain sketchy at this time.

“Let me state for the umpteenth time that we are not oblivious of the plans of the regime to cause harm to our National Chairman, neither are we unaware of their plot to shut us out completely from the forthcoming elections through different tactics.

“But they can only try because it is just too late. Nigerians are ready to be free and we are the most organised and reliable alternative voice to the shenanigans of the regime. No one or system can stop an idea whose time has come.”

Although it’s not clear why Sowore was arrested, Inibehe Effiong, a legal adviser of AAC, told TheCable that a petition was raised against him.

He, however, said details of the petition wasn’t clear.

When contacted, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, police spokesperson, said the arrest was connected to a publication on Ned Nwoko, a former federal lawmaker.

But Adejobi didn’t provide further details on what the publication was about.

The former AAC presidential candidate was, however, released hours after he was arrested.

Sowore was first arrested and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2019 over his plan to organise a nationwide protest.