Former presidential candidate and PDP chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has condemned the continued seizure of activist Comrade Omoyele Sowore’s passport, calling it an abuse of power and a danger to Nigeria’s democratic freedoms.

Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with PDP chairmen, Hashim urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately order the release of Sowore’s passport, stressing that democracy can only thrive when dissenting voices are protected.

“Nigeria is worth fighting for, and meaningful change is possible, no matter how difficult,” Hashim said, recalling his shared pro-democracy activism with Sowore dating back to 1989. He described Sowore as a symbol of principled resistance and a rallying point for young Nigerians seeking a new political order.

Hashim criticized the sustained legal restrictions on Sowore, noting that keeping his passport in court custody constitutes punishment without conviction, restricting basic rights including family life and freedom of movement. He warned that criminalizing dissent undermines democracy and stressed that opposing views must be protected as a non-negotiable pillar of governance.

Sowore’s passport has been held since January 2025 following his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 17-count cybercrime charge. Although granted ₦10 million bail, the court required him to deposit his passport. Efforts by Sowore’s legal team to have it returned were rejected, and his travel documents remain restricted amid ongoing judicial proceedings.

The 2025 legal issues trace back to Sowore’s public criticism of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whom he referred to as an “illegal IGP” on social media. Allegations claimed his comments violated the Cybercrimes Act and threatened law and order. Sowore was also detained briefly in August 2025, during which reports emerged that he was physically assaulted in custody.

Hashim’s appeal emphasized the need for immediate release of Sowore’s passport as a matter of justice, human rights, and respect for the rule of law.