Hashim urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately order the release of Sowore’s passport, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when dissenting voices are protected.
Former presidential candidate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has condemned the continued seizure of the passport of activist and former presidential candidate, Comrade Omoyele Sowore, describing it as an abuse of power and a grave threat to democratic freedoms.
Hashim urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately order the release of Sowore’s passport, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when dissenting voices are protected.
“Nigeria is worth fighting for, and meaningful change is possible, no matter how difficult,” he said.
He made the call in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving Sowore, who paid him a courtesy visit during a meeting with PDP chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The meeting was attended by Hashim’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Kamaldeen Adebayo Sanni, and the National Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, Abdulrazaq Hamzat.
Speaking during the interaction, Hashim recalled their shared pro-democracy struggles dating back to 1989, noting that Sowore was among his protégés during the era of military rule.
He said the meeting was not merely nostalgic but a reminder of the sacrifices that secured Nigeria’s democratic space.
According to Hashim, Sowore’s courage, consistency, and refusal to bow to intimidation have made him a symbol of principled resistance and a rallying point for young Nigerians demanding a new political order.
He condemned what he described as the sustained persecution of Sowore for speaking truth to power, arguing that the continued seizure of his passport amounts to punishment without conviction and denies him basic rights, including family life.
Hashim warned that democracies collapse when dissent is criminalized, stressing that the protection of opposing views is a non-negotiable pillar of democratic governance.
He, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to act decisively by ordering the immediate release of Sowore’s passport in the interest of justice, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental human rights.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Sowore to reconnect with longtime comrades, as participants reflected on defining moments that shaped their commitment to democracy, civic courage, and accountable leadership.
In late January 2025, the Nigeria Police Force arraigned Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 17-count charge related to cybercrime.
On January 30, 2025, the court granted Sowore bail in the sum of ₦10 million. As a specific condition of this bail, the presiding judge, Justice Musa Liman, ordered Sowore to deposit his passport with the court registrar.
In early March 2025, Sowore’s legal team filed an application seeking the release of his passport to enable him to travel and enforce his right to freedom of movement.
However, on March 4, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected this application, maintaining that the passport must remain in the court's custody while the trial continued.
The 2025 legal actions stem from Sowore’s public criticism of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. Specifically, he was accused of referring to the IGP as an "illegal IGP" on social media in December 2024.
The authorities claimed these comments were intended to cause a breakdown of law and order, citing violations of the Cybercrimes Act.
Later in the year, in August 2025, Sowore was again detained after honouring a police invitation. During this period, reports emerged that he was physically assaulted in custody. While he was eventually released following public outcry, his travel documents remained tied up in the ongoing judicial processes.