The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it calls the “illegal harassment and arrest” of opposition figures in Kogi State, warning of potential legal repercussions for the state government and police force.
The party is particularly concerned over the detention of Faruk Ozigi Onimisi, a recent defector from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the NDC. Mr. Onimisi was, according to the NDC, “whisked away” from his home near the Federal Capital Territory and transported to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, by officers acting on the orders of the state government.
Hon. Abdulmumin Ohiare Abdulsalam, Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Spokesperson for the NDC, alleges Mr. Onimisi is being held in “inhumane conditions” and subjected to “daily torture routines” while in solitary confinement. The party claims he has been denied access to legal representation and family, a breach of his fundamental human rights.
“We hereby demand Mr Ozigi’s immediate release by the authorities,” the statement reads, “or, in the worst case scenario, he should be charged to court without further delay if the authorities or the Kogi State government deem him to have committed any offense.”
The NDC contends Mr. Onimisi’s arrest, reportedly linked to plans for a civic protest, is part of a pattern of repression by the Kogi State government, utilising “a familiar smokescreen” to justify crackdowns on dissent. The party is calling on the state government to uphold citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and association.
The NDC further accuses the Kogi State Police Command of targeting opposition politicians who do not align with the ruling APC. They warn that continued harassment will lead to legal action, including seeking reparations through the courts.
In a particularly stark warning, the NDC threatens to escalate the matter to the international community, potentially seeking sanctions from bodies such as the ECOWAS Court and even the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the alleged abuses continue.
The party has urged its members in Kogi State, particularly in Kogi Central, to remain peaceful and law-abiding while the NDC’s National Executive Committee and National Working Committee consider further action.
