Peter Obi Condemns Alleged Political Persecution Following High-Profile Arrests of Opposition Leaders by Federal Authorities

Peter Obi warns the APC government to stop persecuting political opponents like Nasir El-Rufai, calling recent arrests a threat to Nigeria's national stability.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 8:47 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

Defending the Integrity of the Rule of Law

The former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has issued a stern warning to the current administration regarding the perceived degradation of Nigeria's judicial and democratic standards. In a public statement released on Monday, Obi argued that the integrity of the rule of law is a non-negotiable pillar of national stability and economic growth. He contended that when the legal system is manipulated to target specific individuals based on their political affiliations, it undermines public confidence and threatens the very fabric of the republic. According to Obi, the government must distinguish between legitimate criminal prosecution and the blatant persecution of those who hold dissenting views.

Concerns Over High-Profile Opposition Detentions

The recent apprehension of key figures from the African Democracy Congress (ADC) has served as the catalyst for this latest critique of federal law enforcement tactics. Obi described the arrests and continued detention of former Attorney General Abubakar Malami and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as deeply worrisome. He noted that these actions appear to coincide with the victims' public commitments to challenge the current administration in the upcoming 2027 electoral cycle. The timing of these legal maneuvers, Obi suggested, raises serious questions about the impartiality of the state's investigative bodies and their ultimate objectives.

Critique of State Investigative Methods

The methods employed in the apprehension and subsequent handling of these political figures have come under intense scrutiny. Obi characterized the repetitive transfers of Nasir El-Rufai between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) as a "fishing expedition." He argued that such tactics suggest a desperate search for any charge that might stick, rather than a credible investigation based on prior concrete evidence. This revolving door of custody, in his view, strays dangerously close to a violation of the fundamental principles of the Nigerian legal system.