SDP’s Presidential Candidate Adebayo Demands Immediate Release of ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Protesters

SDP presidential candidate Prince Adewale Adebayo has called for the immediate release of five young men detained in a correctional facility in Borno State for allegedly expressing opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Adebayo identified the detainees as Ba’ana Grema, Mustapha Abba, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed, describing their continued detention as unjust, illegal and a violation of their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

In a statement issued under the Movement Adebayo for President (MAP), the SDP candidate criticised the Borno State Government, police and Federal Government for what he described as an attempt to criminalise dissent, insisting that citizens have the right to peacefully express political opinions, including through the wearing of “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.

He urged the police to remain neutral ahead of the 2026/2027 election season and resist any attempt to use security agencies to intimidate opposition parties, candidates or their supporters.

Full statement reads: Release the 5 ‘Tinubu Must Go Boys’ And Uphold Democratic Freedoms. – Prince Adewale Adebayo, SDP Presidential Candidate.

The continued detention of citizens Ba’ana Grema, Mustapha Abba, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio, and Abdulhamid Mohammed in a Correctional Facility in Borno State for peacefully expressing their thoughts on the present watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not only unjust but illegal and reprehensible.

The APC Government in Borno State under His Excellency Babagana Zulum, the Police, and the Federal Government must understand that any and every effort to criminalise dissent in whatever shape or form will be legally resisted. There is nothing illegal or untoward in young men peacefully protesting against the failures of Government; there is nothing illegal in wearing T-shirts marked TINUBU MUST GO so long as the citizens conduct themselves peacefully. In the case of the 5 Boys currently in prison in Borno State, there is no evidence suggesting violent misconduct; it is therefore worrisome why the APC Government has decided to abridge the democratic freedoms enshrined in our constitution and why the Borno State Government is desperate to criminalise dissent.

The Social Democratic Party and the Presidential Candidate of the SDP hereby call for the immediate release of the 5 Boys unjustly held for exercising the constitutional freedom to hold an opinion, and the right to advance same peacefully.

The desperation to hold on to power by any means should not give imprimatur to unconstitutional actions by those entrusted by the Law to protect the Law. The Police must therefore stay neutral and remain so as the 2026/2027 Campaign Season unfolds; they must protect and defend the rights of citizens to peacefully sell their candidates, and they must refuse to be used against opposition parties and candidates. The Police must not be used to intimidate the opposition and those who disagree with the APC.

We want to make it abundantly clear that democracy suffers where Democratic Freedoms are abridged and stifled. We therefore, along with all well-meaning citizens and statesmen, call for the immediate release of the 5 Boys presently held unjustly in Borno State.

Our commitment to Democratic principles must be beyond partisanship. Our willingness to defend democracy must be unalterable. And we are committed to a Nigeria that treats every citizen justly. No Nigerian must therefore be unjustly treated for holding contrary political opinion and for pursuing the same legally and peacefully.

To the APC Government in Borno State and the Nigerian Police, we call for the immediate Release of the 5 BOYS in Custody.

We shall walk and work together with the masses of our people to free our nation of all forms of oppression. To bid FAREWELL TO POVERTY AND INSECURITY, and to make Nigeria GREAT is our unalterable commitment.

God Bless Nigeria.

Signed.

MOVEMENT ADEBAYO FOR PRESIDENT MAP.
MAP…The RoadMAP To A New NIGERIA.