Peter Obi says Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar arrested because he visited him in Kaduna

Africa, Crime Diary, Politics

ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 24, 2026 — The leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Labour Party candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, has raised an alarm over the arrest of Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar.

In a statement on Tuesday titled “Troubling Developments in Our Polity that Must Be Nipped in the Bud,” Obi alleged that the revered religious leader was arrested by authorities shortly after hosting him in Kaduna on Sunday.

A portion of the statement reads: “This development underscores the deeply troubling state of our nation and our democracy, where freedom of speech and movement is increasingly threatened, and where citizens and perceived political opponents face harassment and unnecessary persecution. This cannot be allowed to continue.”

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The presidential hopeful stressed that Nigeria must defend freedom and free speech, which are the hallmarks of every democratic society. He noted that suppression and intimidation of dissent can never stand in a democracy, insisting that the government must understand this fact and act accordingly.

Obi further emphasised that the country’s fragile democracy requires protection, urging leaders to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles in dealing with citizens. “I respectfully call on all those bent on undermining our already fragile democracy to please stop and apply the rule of law and tenets of democracy in dealing with citizens. -PO,” the statement concluded.