The Arewa Voters Assembly (AVA) has warned activist Omoyele Sowore to desist from his planned protest scheduled for October 20, 2025, in Abuja, describing it as a dangerous plot to destabilize Nigeria’s peace, unity, and democracy.
In a statement released today in Abuja and signed by its Convener, Comrade Ismail Ibrahim Bakori, the Assembly said it was “pertinently and vehemently speaking in unequivocal language to all enemies of the country who have overtly and surreptitiously been working to reverse the appreciable mileage that Nigerians have strenuously struggled to cover in entrenching democracy and representative governance in the country, especially the gains so far achieved by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.”
“In tune with the mood of most rational and patriotic Nigerians, we are hereby warning Sowore that we can no longer put up with his serial acts of rascality that threaten the very foundation of the corporate existence of the country and his unguarded utterances and statements against state institutions and statesmen, very unbecoming of a child brought up from a good home with parents,” Bakori said. “Enough is enough.”
According to the Assembly, “Omoyele Sowore is an unpatriotic quisling who has been masquerading in the guise of a ‘human rights and democracy activist.’ This posturing is a facade behind which he has been carrying out his treacherous and treasonable offences and actions against the Nigerian state and institutions for a few years now, masquerading under the so-called garb to blackmail and commit atrocious activities that are very inhuman.”
The statement further alleged that, “Sowore is a hired destabilization agent in the service of foreign forces and interests that have been scheming over the years to disintegrate Nigeria by igniting the fire of ethnic, regional and religious conflagration and inclinations. They have found an ally in Sowore, who does not have the fear of God in him and is never patriotic to the cause and aspirations of the Nigerian state, and who will do anything to bring the country to its knees in order to satisfy his selfish, delusional behavior and character traits of a failed childhood not brought up from a good parentage and family life.”
“Since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, it has long become obvious to us in the Arewa Voters Assembly, and to discerning Nigerians and certainly to every patriotic observer, that several shadowy forces have been at work in efforts to scuttle the trajectory of our hard-won democracy, to which Sowore has lent his life and service as a traitor and fifth columnist of the first order and an enemy of the state,” Bakori added.
The AVA further accused Sowore of being “provocative, vulgar, uncouth and lawless,” with “a habit of instigating violence, chaos, anarchy and conflicts between communities, parties, individuals and regions by always whipping up divisive sentiments along the nation’s fault lines.”
“His latest antics, woven around the trial and detention of Nnamdi Kanu, vividly illustrate the character of Sowore as an opportunistic interloper and renegade spent force who goes on scavenging expeditions for the slightest chance and opportunity, however senseless, of plying his vocation of a rabble-rouser and an enemy of the Nigerian nationhood,” the statement continued.
“It is obvious to us in the Arewa Voters Assembly (AVA) that Sowore’s recent penchant for hauling disparaging verbal attacks, dissolute, crude and odious invectives at the administration and person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a deliberate strategy aimed at arousing the disaffection of the citizens towards their democratically elected political leadership and to cast aspersions on our hard-fought democracy that is thriving in leaps and bounds to the detriment of the undertaker’s principals and sponsors, who are daily licking their wounds because Nigeria is indeed moving towards the right direction under the present dispensation.”
The Assembly made several demands, including an end to what it described as Sowore’s “narcissistic and egocentric vituperations,” and called on the nation’s security agencies “to, as a matter of urgent national security exigency, go for the scum and threat to the nation in the person of Omoyele Sowore.”
On the planned protest, Bakori declared:
“The Arewa Voters Assembly is, for emphasis, vehemently and unequivocally reiterating its position that the Sowore’s planned so-called ‘Free Nnamdi Kanu’ protest slated for the 20th of October, 2025, in Abuja, WILL NOT HOLD! We are very emphatic because that will be his last!”
He revealed that the Assembly has mobilized 60,000 of its members from across the country to converge on the Federal Capital Territory as a counterforce.
“We will chase and hunt for any miscreants seen on that day on the streets of Abuja in the name of protest. It is our fervent prayer that Sowore will not test our resolve,” Bakori warned.
The statement also addressed reports that protesters planned to disrupt business at Wuse Market, saying:
“On the intelligence we got that architects of the so-called peaceful protest plan to disrupt business activities at the Wuse market, we have promptly called on our members at the market to link up with other traders to jointly come out to resist the anarchists.”
Clarifying its position, the Assembly said it was not against Nnamdi Kanu’s person but insisted that his case must follow the rule of law.
“The Arewa Voters Assembly (AVA) wishes to make it very clear that its position on Sowore’s planned protest should not be misconstrued to mean that we are against the person of Nnamdi Kanu. As democrats, our position is based on our ardent belief in the principles of the rule of law. Neither VIOLENCE, BLACKMAIL NOR GRANDSTANDING should prevail in the resolution of conflicts and dialogue.”
Bakori continued:
“While we are also not averse to the suggestion from certain quarters for ‘a political solution’ to the situation, we insist however that justice, due process, equity and fair play should take precedence over sentiments.”
“We insist that the freedom or otherwise of Nnamdi Kanu should follow due judicial process. Let him go through his trial that is now ongoing in the court of law and face the outcome at the end of the day.”
“As much as we are not against justice for Kanu, we are also not unmindful of his violent activities, those of his lieutenants and foot soldiers that resulted in multitudes of deaths, various forms of physical disabilities and massive economic ruination in the Southeast. We believe that the victims of these wanton atrocities also deserve retribution and justice.”
Bakori concluded with a reaffirmation of the Assembly’s loyalty to the unity and peace of Nigeria:
“Long live one united, peaceful Nigeria. Long live democracy.”
