TINUBU MUST GO: ADC REJECTS ZULUM’S WARNING, SAYS NIGERIANS CANNOT BE SILENCED BY THREATS

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By: Muftau Fatimo

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has criticised Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum over an alleged directive to arrest individuals protesting with “Tinubu Must Go” slogans.

The council described the alleged directive as a threat to democratic rights, insisting that Nigerians should not be intimidated or arrested for peacefully expressing opposition to President Bola Tinubu.

The ADC PCC reacted to a video circulating online in which Zulum, speaking in Hausa, was said to have ordered the arrest and detention of people expressing the “Tinubu Must Go” slogan.

In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, the council urged the governor to clarify the contents of the video, noting that he had previously denied ordering the arrest of people wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.

The council maintained that peaceful political expression, including slogans, T-shirts and calls for a president to leave office, should not in itself constitute a criminal offence.

It further urged authorities to present any evidence of separate criminal offences before a court and allow due process to take its course, rather than targeting individuals because of their political views.n

The ADC PCC also called on Zulum to withdraw any directive aimed at peaceful protesters and guarantee that no individual would be arrested solely for expressing opposition to President Tinubu.

According to the council, governments should respond to criticism through evidence and performance rather than threats of arrest and detention.