The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 elections, Peter Obi, has called for the immediate release of his supporter, Rilwan Olawale, reportedly taken from his Lagos residence by armed men suspected to be Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.
In a statement on Monday, Obi condemned what he described as the harassment and intimidation of his supporters, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to respect Olawale’s fundamental rights and ensure his release.
“The continued intimidation and harassment of my supporters across the country, the latest being the case of Rilwan Olawale, is disturbing and unacceptable,” he said.
Olawale, a political mobiliser associated with the Obidient movement, was reportedly taken at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026. However, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, as neither the DSS nor the police has publicly confirmed his custody.
Lagos NDC governorship candidate Funso Doherty also raised concerns over the reported incident, saying efforts were underway to establish the facts and secure access to Olawale through his family and legal counsel. He urged the public to remain calm while investigations continued.
The reported detention has sparked calls for information about Olawale’s whereabouts, with the hashtag #FreeRilwanNow gaining traction on X.
Obi also accused Tinubu of undermining democratic values, saying, “President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence.”
Reaffirming his commitment to peaceful campaigning ahead of the 2027 elections, Obi said the NDC seeks to offer Nigerians an alternative based on competence, accountability, justice and compassion.
“Our campaign is peaceful and issue-driven, focused on offering Nigerians a credible alternative built on competence, accountability, justice, and compassion,” he said.
He added that his supporters would continue to pursue political change through peaceful engagement but warned against interpreting their restraint as weakness.
“We will not be intimidated into silence, nor will we abandon Nigerians who believe in a New Nigeria that is possible and will be OK,” Obi added.
