Rights group alleges political pressure, urges ABU to uphold freedom of expression
Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the cancellation of a planned public presentation of a book critically examining President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing the decision as an attack on freedom of expression.
The organisation disclosed this on its X platform on Sunday, accusing the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, of succumbing to political pressure over the planned presentation of the book, Tinubu: From Renewed Hope to Despair: A Critical Examination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government.
The presentation was scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Arewa House, Kaduna.
Amnesty International said the organisers, the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria, encountered difficulties securing an alternative venue after the cancellation.
According to the rights group, hotels and event centres approached by the organisers in Kaduna declined to host the event, with some reportedly saying they had been warned against accommodating it.
The organisation described the development as part of what it called an escalating pattern of political repression and intolerance of dissenting opinions in Nigeria.
It argued that the book, which examines government policies and their implications for Nigerians, constituted a legitimate form of intellectual engagement and posed no threat to public peace.
“Everything the book was already in public domain,” the organisation said, arguing that attempts to prevent its presentation could create a climate of fear and make it increasingly difficult for citizens to express dissenting views.
Amnesty International called on the authorities to end what it described as attacks on freedom of expression and association.
It also urged the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University to uphold freedom of expression and called for the immediate and unconditional reversal of the cancellation of the booking for the presentation at Arewa House, Kaduna.
The organisation maintained that the rights to freedom of expression and association must be respected.
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