Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has accused the current administration of using criminal prosecution as a tool to persecute political opponents.
Obi made the claim in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, where he called on the government to end what he described as the “blatant persecution” of opposition figures under the guise of fighting corruption.
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According to him, the integrity of the rule of law in Nigeria must not be compromised, warning that weakening the justice system could harm the country’s economic development and threaten national stability.
The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over the reported arrests and continued detention of leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai.
Obi said the timing of the arrests—coming shortly after the politicians allegedly declared their commitment to unseat the current administration in the 2027 general elections—raises serious questions about the motive behind the actions.
He also criticised the conditions surrounding their detention, stating that the denial of bail or the imposition of what he called excessively strict bail conditions suggests that criminal prosecution may be used as a political weapon.
The Labour Party figure particularly raised concerns about the situation involving El-Rufai, alleging that the former Kaduna governor had been moved repeatedly between different anti-graft and security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services.
According to Obi, such transfers create the impression that authorities are searching for charges rather than conducting a focused investigation based on evidence.
He maintained that Nigeria needs a justice system that gives citizens confidence that no one will face persecution for holding political views different from those in power.
Obi added that while he supports the fight against corruption and wrongdoing, the campaign must be carried out with fairness and transparency, beginning with those currently in government.
“A credible anti-corruption campaign cannot afford to be selective,” he said.
The statement comes amid growing political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures increasingly accusing the administration of suppressing dissent through law enforcement actions.
