BY AHMED AKANBI
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to clarify the whereabouts of his supporter, Rilwan Olawale, after reports that armed men took him from his Lagos residence.
Obi’s demand comes amid preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the former Anambra State governor warning against actions that could discourage Nigerians from openly supporting opposition candidates.
Olawale, an NDC supporter linked to the Obidient Movement, was reportedly taken away at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, by men who identified themselves as operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
As of Monday, there was no public confirmation from the DSS or the police that Olawale was in their custody.
In a statement, Obi described the incident as disturbing and demanded transparency, respect for Olawale’s fundamental rights, and an end to what he called politically motivated harassment.
He accused President Bola Tinubu of undermining democratic principles, arguing that Nigerians should be free to support candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation.
Obi said his movement remained committed to peaceful engagement and would not resort to violence in responding to alleged attempts to suppress its supporters.
He however warned that commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness, insisting that he and his supporters would continue to defend their democratic rights through lawful means.
The NDC presidential candidate said his party was seeking to offer Nigerians an alternative focused on accountability, justice, competence and compassion.
Meanwhile, the party’s Lagos State governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, said efforts were underway to establish what happened to Olawale and gain access to him through his family and legal counsel.
Doherty urged the public to remain calm while efforts to establish the facts continued.