PDP cries foul over arrest of Kwara publicity secretary, alleges move to silence opposition
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the remand of its State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olusegun Olushola Adewara Sholyment, describing the development as a politically motivated action aimed at silencing opposition voices in the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday, May 21, 2026, by the party’s Assistant State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bashir Ashura, the PDP said the arraignment of its spokesperson before Justice T.S. Umar-led Kwara State High Court on a two-count charge was “a deliberate attempt to intimidate opposition voices and suppress criticism of government failures.”
The party accused the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of using state institutions to harass critics, rather than focusing on governance and rising insecurity.
“It is condemnable and unacceptable that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whose popularity continues to decline across the state due to his administration’s inability to deliver good governance, has resorted to using the instruments of government to victimize opposition members and suppress dissenting voices,” the statement said.
The opposition party argued that it was unfortunate that while insecurity and economic hardship persist across Kwara State, government attention, according to it, appears to be shifting toward targeting political opponents.
The statement further read: “The present administration has continued to plunge the people of Kwara into hardship through poor governance, lack of transparency in public spending, and consistent failure to provide meaningful solutions to the numerous challenges confronting the state.”
The PDP stressed that democracy cannot thrive where intimidation and political persecution replace accountability and free expression.
“The Kwara PDP therefore calls on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to immediately stop the intimidation of opposition and instead come before the people of Kwara to explain why insecurity has continued to escalate under his watch despite huge allocations and public resources available to his administration,” the statement added.
The party also questioned the government’s priorities, insisting that communities across the state continue to face insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and infrastructural decay.
Reaffirming its stance, the PDP said it would continue to defend democracy and the rights of citizens to speak freely without fear of harassment.
It also urged security agencies and the judiciary to remain neutral and not allow themselves to be used as tools for political oppression.
