The Integrity Youth Alliance has strongly condemned Amnesty International for calling on the Federal Government to drop criminal charges against African Action Congress (AAC) Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
In a statement signed by its National Spokesperson, Danjuma Lamido, the group described Amnesty International’s position as “reckless and misguided,” insisting that Sowore is not facing politically motivated charges but genuine criminal cases instituted in line with Nigerian laws.
According to the Alliance, the charges against Sowore, which include forgery, criminal defamation, and the unlawful publication of confidential government documents, are grave offences that cannot be trivialized as political persecution.
“The Nigerian authorities will not terminate these legal processes or succumb to foreign propaganda aimed at emboldening lawlessness. Sowore must face the consequences of his utterances and actions, as freedom of expression does not amount to a license for disinformation, blackmail, or character assassination,” the statement read.
The group further dismissed claims that Sowore was tortured or ill-treated in custody, describing such allegations as “stage-managed drama” designed to mislead the public. It also criticized Sowore for what it termed “reckless accusations” against the Inspector General of Police, including allegations of forgery and defamatory publications.
The Integrity Youth Alliance stressed that the Federal Government is not out to stifle civic space, adding that while citizens are free to express opinions, no one should exploit activism or politics to undermine state institutions through unlawful acts.
The group, therefore, urged Amnesty International to “retrace its steps” and stop encouraging lawlessness by backing Sowore’s excesses, while calling on the AAC Presidential candidate to respect the rule of law and submit himself to justice.
