By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the arrest of five men in Maiduguri, Borno State, over T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go,” describing the action as an attempt to suppress political expression ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC PCC, in a statement on Tuesday issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged that the arrests amounted to an abuse of power and intimidation of citizens expressing opposition to the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The development followed the arrest and arraignment of five men by the Borno State Police Command over the T-shirts. A First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Maiduguri accused the men of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
The police alleged that the men had conspired to print and wear the T-shirts with the intention of causing a breach of public peace around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri. The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The ADC PCC, however, rejected the justification for the arrests.
Ologbondiyan said the expression “Tinubu Must Go” constituted political expression and argued that citizens should be allowed to express their political preferences ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The arrest of members of the Tinubu Must Go (#TMG) movement in Maiduguri by the state governor is reckless and a total abuse of power and office. It is a welcome gift for President Tinubu,” Ologbondiyan said.
He alleged that some governors were engaged in what he described as a competition to demonstrate loyalty to the President at the expense of citizens’ rights.
“What is in vogue among some of these current governors is a race to impress Tinubu at the expense of ordinary citizens,” he stated.
The ADC PCC spokesman further alleged that the arrests were intended to intimidate members of the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said arrests and harassment would not prevent Nigerians from participating in the electoral process.
Ologbondiyan called on Governor Babagana Zulum to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the arrested men and guarantee their safety.
The ADC PCC also appealed to the African Union, European Union, British High Commission and United States Embassy to monitor developments concerning what it described as the shrinking democratic space and alleged harassment of opposition supporters.
The council urged the international community to support measures aimed at protecting citizens’ fundamental rights and Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The allegations of a direct order by Governor Zulum for the arrests have not been independently established. Reports on the case indicate that the police FIR specifically connects the charges to the alleged printing and wearing of the T-shirts and the claimed potential for a breach of public peace.
The five defendants were subsequently brought before a Chief Magistrate Court in Maiduguri, where they pleaded not guilty, according to reports. Their lawyers applied for bail, with the court reportedly adjourning the matter to October 6, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and October 26 for the substantive case.
The arrests have also attracted criticism from human rights groups. Amnesty International reportedly argued that wearing a T-shirt expressing political dissent should not, by itself, constitute a criminal offence and called for the men’s release and the discontinuation of the charges.
Ologbondiyan recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC), when it was in opposition, openly criticised the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He argued that despite the criticisms directed at Jonathan’s government, citizens were not arrested merely for expressing opposition to his administration.
