The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has demanded the immediate release of his supporter, Rilwan Olawale, following reports that armed men suspected to be operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) took him from his Lagos residence.
Obi, in a statement issued on Monday, condemned what he described as the continued harassment and intimidation of his supporters across the country.
He called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to ensure Olawale’s release and respect his fundamental rights.
Obi described the alleged treatment of his supporters as disturbing and unacceptable, citing Olawale’s reported arrest as the latest incident.
“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, an NDC supporter and political mobiliser associated with the Obidient movement, was reportedly taken from his Lagos residence at about 1 am on Sunday, October 25, 2026, by armed men who identified themselves as DSS operatives.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. Neither the DSS nor the police has publicly confirmed that Olawale is in its custody.
NDC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Funso Doherty, had also raised concerns over the reported arrest, saying efforts were underway to establish the facts and secure access to Olawale through his family and legal counsel.
Doherty urged the public to remain calm while the circumstances surrounding the incident were being clarified.
Olawale’s reported detention has triggered calls from supporters demanding information about his whereabouts and his immediate release. The hashtag #FreeRilwanNow has also gained traction on X.
In his statement, Obi accused President Tinubu of undermining democratic values despite benefiting from the country’s democratic system.
“President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that his campaign ahead of the 2027 elections would remain peaceful and focused on issues affecting Nigerians.
He said the NDC was seeking to provide an alternative founded 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,” Obi said.
He added that his supporters had chosen peaceful political engagement and persuasion over violence and intimidation.
“However, nobody should mistake our civility for weakness, our restraint for fear, or our commitment to peace for an absence of resolve,” he said.
Obi also vowed that he would not be intimidated into silence or abandon Nigerians who shared his political vision.
“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,” he added.
The NDC presidential candidate specifically demanded transparency regarding Olawale’s reported arrest, his release, respect for his rights and an end to what he described as politically motivated harassment.
He insisted that Nigerians must be allowed to support candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation or harassment.
“No government or political party has the right to deny Nigerians the freedom to support a candidate of their choice,” Obi said.
“We will remain peaceful but resolute. We will not resort to violence, but we will stand firmly and lawfully against every attempt to undermine our democratic rights,” he added.
