Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has warned that any attempt to prevent Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, from moving freely in Benue State could pose a serious threat to constitutional democracy.
Okutepa issued the warning following reports that youths suspected to be political thugs allegedly blocked Obi from freely moving in the state during his visit to internally displaced persons’ camps.
He, however, stressed that the allegation must first be established by credible investigation.
“If this allegation is true, then it portends danger to constitutional democracy and freedom of choice of the people,” Okutepa said.
The legal practitioner argued that a presidential candidate has a constitutional right to move across Nigeria, meet voters and canvass for support.
He cited Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian citizen the right to move freely throughout the country and reside in any part of it.
Okutepa also cited Sections 39 and 40, which protect freedom of expression as well as peaceful assembly and association, including political participation.
He said these constitutional protections become particularly important during elections because candidates must be able to reach voters and present their programmes.
According to him, political campaigning cannot be meaningful if candidates are prevented from entering communities, addressing citizens or meeting their supporters.
Okutepa therefore warned that no political thug, partisan group, community authority or political godfather has the power to declare any part of Nigeria a “no-go area” for a lawful political candidate.
“Nigeria is one indivisible constitutional territory. No part of it belongs exclusively to any political party, candidate or political godfather,” he said.
He said any attempt through threats, violence, assault or intimidation to stop a candidate from campaigning would go beyond ordinary political rivalry.
Such conduct, he argued, would amount to interference with constitutionally protected rights and could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
Okutepa also placed a responsibility on the Federal and state governments to protect all political candidates and ensure a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.
He warned that government must neither use state power to suppress political competition nor tolerate partisan violence against opposition candidates.
The SAN noted that Section 45 of the Constitution permits restrictions on certain fundamental rights only under conditions prescribed by law and where such restrictions are reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
He stressed that the provision does not give political thugs or partisan actors the authority to suspend the constitutional rights of other Nigerians.
“The principle is therefore simple: No candidate can be constitutionally confined to his political stronghold. No political thug can determine where a Nigerian candidate may go,” Okutepa said.
He urged the Federal Government and state governments to ensure that all candidates are allowed to move freely, engage voters and campaign peacefully across the country.
“All candidates must be given a level playing ground to sell their programmes for Nigerians to buy. This is how democracy works,” he said.
