The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has asked Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, to explain a viral video in which he allegedly ordered the arrest and detention of people expressing the slogan “Tinubu Must Go.”
The call was made by the council’s Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, who said the video appeared to contradict Zulum’s recent denial that he ordered the arrest of people wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.
According to the ADC campaign council, Nigerians deserve clarification on whether peaceful critics of President Bola Tinubu could be arrested simply for expressing their political opinions.
The council argued that political slogans, T-shirts or calls for a president to leave office should not, on their own, constitute a criminal offence.
The controversy follows the September 25 arrest of five men in Maiduguri over allegations linked to T-shirts bearing the “Tinubu Must Go” inscription. The police later said the arrests were connected to other alleged offences and that the political slogan itself was not the basis for the arrests.
Zulum has since denied ordering the arrest of “Tinubu Must Go” protesters, saying his threats were directed at criminals allegedly threatening peace and stability in Borno State.
The ADC campaign council has therefore urged the governor to explain the contents and context of the viral video and reconcile them with his earlier position.
