Abuja Nigeria 27th October 2026.
The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has strongly condemned the reported abduction of Rilwan Olawale, a mobiliser of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the incident as a disturbing threat to democratic freedoms, political participation and the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.
COPDEM said the reported incident raises serious questions about the protection of citizens who exercise their conscience, express political opinions and participate peacefully in campaigns for credible elections and accountable government.
The organisation maintains that “no Nigerian should be made to fear for his freedom simply because he chooses to support a political movement, campaign for a candidate or demand a better government.”
According to reports published on October 25 and 26, 2026, Olawale was allegedly taken from his Lagos residence by men believed to be DSS operatives in the early hours of Sunday, October 25. His whereabouts and the legal basis for his reported detention had not been independently established in the reports reviewed. The NDC’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, also raised concerns and said efforts were underway to establish the facts and secure access to him.
COPDEM therefore calls on the DSS to clarify whether its operatives took Olawale into custody, disclose his whereabouts if he is being detained, provide access to his family and legal representatives, and explain the legal basis for any restriction on his liberty.
His alleged crime: Following his conscience
At the heart of the controversy is a fundamental democratic question: can a citizen freely support a political ticket without fear of intimidation or reprisals?
COPDEM argues that the reported circumstances surrounding Olawale’s disappearance are particularly troubling because he is identified as an NDC mobiliser associated with political advocacy and support for the OK Ticket.
The organisation insists that political participation is a legitimate component of democratic life. Citizens must be free to support candidates, mobilise voters, criticise government policies and advocate political change within the law.
“If Rilwan’s reported detention is connected to his peaceful political activities, COPDEM considers such an action an assault on democratic freedom and a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s electoral environment.”
The organisation stresses, however, that the circumstances must be established through a transparent investigation, and that the authorities should be given the opportunity to clarify their actions.
COPDEM: A coup against democracy
COPDEM describes the reported incident as a “coup against democracy”, using the expression to convey its concern that the intimidation or unexplained detention of political activists could undermine the democratic principles that give citizens the freedom to choose their leaders.
A democracy cannot be judged solely by the conduct of elections. It must also be judged by whether citizens can participate in the political process without fear, whether opposition voices are protected, and whether security agencies exercise their powers within the law.
Where citizens become apprehensive about expressing political preferences, the damage extends beyond the individual concerned. It can discourage civic participation, weaken public confidence in state institutions and create an atmosphere in which political competition is overshadowed by fear.
COPDEM warns that Nigeria’s democratic institutions must not permit a situation in which the exercise of political conscience is perceived as a security threat simply because it challenges those in power.
The organisation maintains that the security agencies must remain accountable to the Constitution and the law, irrespective of the political affiliation of the individuals they investigate.
DSS and the question of national security priorities
COPDEM also questions the public perception that security agencies can act decisively against peaceful political activists while Nigerians continue to demand stronger results against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and the financial networks that sustain violent groups.
The organisation’s concern reflects a broader national debate over the identification, investigation and prosecution of suspected terrorism financiers.
A February 2026 policy brief from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies examined the security implications of delays in prosecuting suspected terrorism financiers. The issue remains significant because disrupting the financial networks that support violent organisations is an important part of counterterrorism efforts.
COPDEM insists that Nigeria needs security institutions capable of protecting citizens from violence while ensuring that allegations of terrorism financing receive thorough, impartial and evidence-based investigation.
The organisation is not suggesting that counterterrorism investigations should be abandoned or that security agencies lack the authority to investigate suspected offences. Rather, it argues that “the exercise of security powers must be lawful, transparent and consistent with the same standards of accountability expected of every public institution.”
The public deserves to see measurable progress against those who finance and facilitate violence, just as it deserves assurances that peaceful citizens will not be deprived of their liberty without lawful justification.
Fundamental rights cannot depend on political affiliation
COPDEM emphasises that constitutional democracy requires the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, subject to lawful limitations.
Security agencies have an important responsibility to protect national security. That responsibility, however, must be exercised in accordance with the law, including applicable safeguards against arbitrary detention.
The organisation argues that where a person is taken into custody, the authorities must follow the relevant legal procedures, communicate the person’s status as required by law, and ensure access to legal representation and judicial oversight where applicable.
No institution should be permitted to operate beyond the law. Equally, no individual should be presumed guilty merely because an allegation has been made against them.
COPDEM therefore calls for a transparent account of the circumstances surrounding Olawale’s reported disappearance and urges the relevant authorities to ensure that his rights are protected.
If there is no lawful basis for his continued detention, the organisation demands his immediate release.
Implications for the 2027 general elections:
With Nigeria preparing for the 2027 general elections, COPDEM warns that allegations of politically motivated intimidation must be addressed promptly to protect public confidence in the electoral process.
Credible elections require more than ballot papers, polling units and the announcement of results. They also require an environment in which political parties, candidates, campaign organisations, observers and ordinary citizens can carry out lawful activities without fear of harassment or arbitrary restrictions.
The organisation argues that unexplained incidents involving political mobilisers can deepen suspicion, heighten political tensions and discourage citizens from participating in the democratic process.
COPDEM calls on INEC, relevant human rights institutions, civil society organisations and other appropriate stakeholders to pay attention to allegations of intimidation and insist on the protection of lawful political participation.
It further urges political parties and their supporters to pursue their grievances through peaceful, lawful and democratic means while demanding transparency from public institutions.
The objective, COPDEM says, must be to ensure that the 2027 elections are determined by the freely expressed will of Nigerian voters rather than an atmosphere of intimidation or uncertainty.
COPDEM’s demands:
The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy calls on the Department of State Services to:
1. Clarify immediately: whether Rilwan Olawale was taken into custody by DSS operatives.
2. Disclose his whereabouts and legal status: if he is being detained, in accordance with applicable law.
3. Provide access to his family and legal representatives; and respect all applicable constitutional and procedural safeguards.
4. Release him immediately if no lawful basis exists for his continued detention.
5. Ensure an impartial investigation into the circumstances of his reported disappearance and address any substantiated misconduct.
6. Demonstrate equal commitment to national security, including the investigation of terrorism financing and the disruption of networks supporting violent groups.
7. Respect the democratic rights of Nigerians to engage in peaceful political advocacy and participate in the 2027 electoral process.
COPDEM also calls on Nigerians, civil society organisations, human rights advocates and democratic institutions to remain vigilant, demand verified information and insist on accountability without resorting to violence or unsubstantiated allegations.
Enough is enough: Free Rilwan now
COPDEM maintains that the future of Nigerian democracy depends on the ability of citizens to exercise their political rights without intimidation and on the willingness of state institutions to operate transparently and within the law.
The organisation warns that public confidence in security institutions cannot be sustained by coercive power alone. It must be earned through professionalism, impartiality, respect for human rights and demonstrable commitment to protecting every Nigerian.
For COPDEM, the reported case of Rilwan Olawale is therefore not merely a question about one political mobiliser. It raises a wider question about the relationship between state power and citizens’ democratic freedoms.
A government must be able to protect national security without treating peaceful political dissent as an enemy. A security agency must be able to investigate suspected wrongdoing without abandoning due process. And a democracy must protect the rights of citizens regardless of whom they support.
COPDEM concludes that any action intended to silence peaceful political participation would be incompatible with the principles of a constitutional democracy.
The organisation therefore renews its demand for transparency, accountability and the protection of Olawale’s rights.
His alleged crime was following his conscience and campaigning for a credible OK Ticket. If that is the basis for his reported detention, Nigerians deserve answers.
DSS, the demand is clear: respect the law, protect citizens’ rights and account for Rilwan’s whereabouts.
#FreeRilwanNow
#EnoughIsEnough
#COPDEM
#DefendDemocracy
#CredibleElections
#JusticeForRilwan
