The reported attack on human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and other protesters during a Democracy Day demonstration has drawn sharp condemnation from Accord Party presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.
Hashim, who also serves as Co-Chairman of the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR), said the incident is a troubling development for Nigeria's democratic space. He stressed that the right to peaceful protest, free expression, and civic participation are fundamental pillars of any democracy.
“Democracy is strengthened when citizens can freely speak, organise and demand accountability from those entrusted with power. Any attempt to suppress these freedoms weakens democracy itself,” Hashim said in a statement on Friday.
Democracy Day, observed annually on June 12, marks Nigeria's return to civilian rule in 1999. But Hashim said the day should also serve as a call to protect democratic values like freedom of expression, justice, constitutionalism, and the rule of law.
Hashim recently became co-chair of the Movement for Democratic Renewal alongside Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero. The group was established to defend democratic space and prevent any erosion of civic freedoms. Hashim said the MDR would continue to mobilise civil society, labour groups, and citizens committed to strengthening democratic institutions and protecting civic rights.
He also expressed concern over what he described as the continued harassment of Sowore, including issues surrounding the seizure of his passport. Hashim called for due legal processes to be respected.
“Nigeria must not return to an era where dissent is treated as a crime and citizens are denied their democratic rights. The defence of democracy is the responsibility of all who believe in freedom and accountable leadership,” he said.
Hashim urged security agencies and relevant authorities to respect citizens' constitutional rights while maintaining public order.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, has faced repeated run-ins with security agencies. In 2019, he was arrested and detained for several months by the Department of State Services over allegations of treason and cyberstalking—charges that were later dropped. His passport was seized in 2020 and has remained a subject of legal battles.
The Democracy Day protest, organised by Sowore and other activists, sought to draw attention to the state of governance and economic hardship in the country. Videos circulating online showed security personnel roughing up protesters and making arrests.
Hashim's statement adds to growing criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups over the handling of the protest. The incident has reignited debate about the state of civic freedoms in Nigeria, where peaceful protests have often been met with force.