The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), 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 through the slogan “Tinubu Must Go.”
Adebayo described their continued detention as unjust, illegal and reprehensible, insisting that citizens have a constitutional right to express dissenting political opinions and engage in peaceful protests.
In a statement signed by the Movement Adebayo for President (MAP), the SDP presidential candidate urged the Borno State Government, led by Governor Babagana Zulum, the Federal Government and the Nigerian Police to respect democratic freedoms and desist from criminalising peaceful opposition.
He also warned against the use of security agencies to intimidate opposition parties and their supporters ahead of the 2026/2027 campaign season, stressing that democracy can only thrive when citizens are free to express their political views without fear of persecution.
Read Prince Adebayo’s statement…
“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 Zullum, 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 of T-shirts marked TINUBU MUST GO so long as the citizens conduct themselves peacefully, in the case 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 calls for the immediate release of the 5 Boys unjustly held for expressing the constitutional freedom to hold 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 stiffled. 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 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.’
