August 20, (THEWILL) – A frontline democracy campaign organisation, Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), has condemned the arrest of Chigozie Ifeanyichukwu by security operatives.
Ifeanyichukwu is the Convener of “UpNorth Ambassadors for Peter Obi’.
In a statement signed by the Spokesman of COPDEM, Danjuma Garba, the group said Chigozie was arrested on Sunday afternoon, by a combined team of Police and Army at Area 1 Round About, Garki.
COPDEM condemned the action of security agencies for arresting peaceful protesters, who were simply expressing their democratic rights to freedom of expression and association.
“Nigeria is under a democratic government where the right to express divergent views is guaranteed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the group stated.
The statement reads, “We observe with concern the arrest of one of our members, Chigozie Ifeanyichukwu, who is also the Convener of “UpNorth Ambassadors for Peter Obi’ by a combined team of Police and the Army in Abuja, on Sunday afternoon, at Area One Round About, Garki, in Abuja.
“Chigozie, who is also a member of COPDEM, has every democratic right to express his dissatisfaction on any issue of national interest without intimidation, but we are dismayed to learn that Chigozie was arrested on Sunday afternoon while trying to express his democratic rights, which are enshrined in the constitution.
“We hereby demand the immediate release of Chigozie by the security agencies responsible and involved in his arrest.
“We are also learning that some citizens, who want to express their civic rights at City Gate, in Abuja, were dispersed by security agents stationed at the area, with some of the protesters sustaining serious injuries.
“This situation is against democratic tenets all over the world and we are cautioning the security agencies to embrace the rule of law in their day-to-day activities.”
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