A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has remanded the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Olusegun Adewara, over alleged defamation against the government.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Adewara was arraigned on Thursday before Justice T.S. Umar on a two-count charge bordering on alleged defamation and public disturbance.
Following his remand, the PDP condemned the development, describing it as politically motivated.
In a statement issued by the Assistant State Publicity Secretary of the party, Bashir Ashura, the PDP alleged that the prosecution was an attempt by the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration to intimidate opposition voices.
The party claimed the move was targeted at silencing critics of alleged government failures in the state.
It said, “It is deeply unfortunate that a government which has failed woefully in addressing the worsening insecurity across Kwara State is now channelling state resources toward the harassment and intimidation of citizens who dare to speak against its shortcomings.”
The opposition party accused the state government of focusing on critics instead of addressing insecurity and socio-economic challenges confronting residents.
It also alleged poor governance, lack of transparency in public spending and failure to provide solutions to problems facing the state.
“It is condemnable and unacceptable that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whose popularity continues to decline across the state due to his administration’s inability to deliver good governance, has resorted to using the instruments of government to victimise opposition members and suppress dissenting voices,” the statement added.
‘Democracy Thrives On Free Speech’
The PDP maintained that democracy should be anchored on freedom of expression, not intimidation or political persecution.
“The Kwara PDP therefore calls on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to immediately stop the intimidation of opposition and instead come before the people of Kwara to explain why insecurity has continued to escalate under his watch despite huge allocations and public resources available to his administration,” the party said.
It added that many communities in the state were battling insecurity, unemployment, poverty, decaying infrastructure and economic hardship.
“While communities across the state continue to suffer from insecurity, unemployment, poverty, decaying infrastructure, and economic hardship, the government appears more focused on targeting critics than solving the real problems affecting Kwarans,” the statement read.
The PDP reaffirmed its commitment to defending democracy, justice and the constitutional rights of citizens.
“No amount of intimidation or harassment will silence the opposition from speaking truth to power and holding the government accountable to the people,” the party said.
It also urged security agencies, the judiciary and other relevant authorities to remain professional and avoid being used as instruments of political oppression against opposition members in the state.