Peter Obi Demands Release of Supporter Over Alleged Arrest in Lagos

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has demanded the immediate release of supporter Rilwan Olawale following reports that armed men identifying themselves as Department of State Services (DSS) operatives took him from his residence in Lagos.

Obi made the demand in a statement published on Monday, October 26, 2026, in which he condemned what he described as continued harassment and intimidation of his supporters across Nigeria.

The former Anambra State governor described the reported incident involving Olawale as “disturbing and unacceptable” and called for transparency over the circumstances surrounding his reported arrest.

Olawale is identified as an NDC supporter and political mobiliser associated with the Obidient movement, which backs Obi’s political ambitions.

The incident has raised concerns among party supporters, who have called for information about Olawale’s whereabouts and confirmation of whether he is being held by any security agency.

What happened to Rilwan Olawale?

According to Funso Doherty, the NDC’s Lagos State governorship candidate, Olawale was reportedly taken from his Lagos residence in the early hours of Sunday, October 25.

Doherty said the men involved identified themselves as DSS operatives. The reported incident was said to have occurred at approximately 1 a.m.

However, the circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear in reports available on Monday. There was no public confirmation in those reports from the DSS or police establishing that Olawale was in their custody.

Doherty said he was in contact with Olawale’s family and legal counsel, who were working to establish the facts and gain access to him.

He also urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid speculation while efforts continued to determine what had happened.

The lack of publicly confirmed information about Olawale’s whereabouts has become a central concern for supporters seeking clarification.

In his statement, Obi criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that the treatment of his supporters threatened democratic principles.

“President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence,” Obi said.

The former governor maintained that his political campaign was peaceful and focused on presenting Nigerians with an alternative built around competence, accountability, justice and compassion.

He also warned against interpreting his supporters’ commitment to peaceful engagement as a sign that they would abandon their political activities in the face of intimidation.

Obi said his supporters had chosen persuasion rather than intimidation and peaceful engagement rather than violence.

He further stated that he would not be intimidated into silence or abandon Nigerians who supported his political vision.

NDC seeks answers over reported detention

Doherty’s statement indicated that the party was attempting to establish the relevant facts through Olawale’s family and legal representatives.

The immediate questions include whether Olawale is in official custody, which agency may be holding him, the reason for the reported operation and whether his family and lawyers have been granted access to him.

These details are important to establishing the circumstances of the incident. Until they are confirmed, claims about the motive for the reported arrest should be treated as allegations rather than established facts.

Obi has called for transparency regarding the incident, Olawale’s release, respect for his rights and an end to what he described as politically motivated harassment.

He also argued that Nigerians should be free to support political candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation.

The incident comes as political parties and their candidates begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, a period likely to bring increased attention to political mobilisation, campaign activities and relations between opposition groups and government institutions.

Calls for transparency continue

Obi reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful political engagement, saying he and his supporters would use lawful means to defend their democratic rights.

The NDC has also urged the public to remain calm while efforts continue to establish Olawale’s whereabouts and clarify the circumstances of the reported incident.