2027: No Crime In Wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Shirt, Says Adeyanju

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

Renowned human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has warned against any attempt to arrest or detain Nigerians for wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts, stressing that expressing political dissent through clothing is not a criminal offence in a democracy.

Adeyanju made the assertion in a Facebook post on Thursday, reacting to growing controversy over reports of alleged attempts to clamp down on citizens displaying messages critical of President Bola Tinubu.

He said, “Wearing a TINUBU MUST GO T-Shirt is not a crime and can never be a crime except we are now in a military state. We are in a democracy. Even under the military junta, people wore ABACHA MUST GO T-shirts.”

His comments came days after a video circulated on social media purportedly showing Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, ordering the arrest and detention of anyone caught chanting “Tinubu Must Go.”

Although the governor had previously denied ordering the arrest of persons wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts, the development has continued to fuel debate over the limits of political expression and the right of Nigerians to openly criticise those in power.

Adeyanju’s position underscores the principle that peaceful political expression, including the display of messages calling for a change of government, should not by itself be treated as a criminal act in a democratic society.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC PCC) also condemned the alleged fresh directive to arrest anyone expressing “Tinubu Must Go”, describing it as an assault on democracy.

In a statement by its spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, the council charged the governor to explain the fresh video and reconcile its contents with that denial.

“Nigerians deserve clarity, not contradictory messages about whether peaceful critics will be arrested,” the ADC maintained.