Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has called on Nigerians to participate in a nationwide protest demanding the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, despite a court injunction restricting demonstrations near major government facilities in Abuja.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday morning, Sowore urged citizens to take to the streets peacefully, writing, “Good morning, wherever you may be this morning, do not stop moving. Carry a sign, sing a song, make a statement!”
He had earlier, on Sunday night, welcomed participants to the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, commending their “courage, sacrifice, and solidarity,” and announcing that demonstrators would converge at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, by 7 a.m.
Sowore also took to Facebook to encourage mass turnout, stating, “We want to put one million people on the streets of Abuja tomorrow for #FreeNnamdiKanuNow — let’s make it happen.”
The planned protest, however, directly defies an interim injunction issued by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which barred Sowore and other organisers from protesting in or around sensitive government areas, including the Presidential Villa, National Assembly Complex, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
Reacting to reports of the order, Sowore questioned its legality and the perceived double standards of law enforcement agencies. “If a court order truly exists restricting protests around Aso Rock Villa, why hasn’t the same police force obtained a similar order against those protesting for three days opposing Nnamdi Kanu’s release?” he asked.
Sowore disclosed that his legal team of 115 lawyers would challenge the injunction once officially served, reaffirming that the protest would go ahead as a peaceful and lawful march.
He declared, “October 20 #FreeNnamdiKanuNow remains sacrosanct. We march peacefully, lawfully, and powerfully.”
The demonstration coincides with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, a movement that called for police reform and justice for victims of brutality following the Lekki Toll Gate incident in October 2020.
