Veteran journalist and media mogul Dele Momodu has appealed to Yoruba nation agitator Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to support any presidential candidate of his choice peacefully, stressing that no one can stop political campaigns in any part of Yorubaland or Nigeria.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
Momodu’s appeal comes after Igboho issued a viral threat to frustrate supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi from campaigning in Yorubaland, declaring total allegiance to President Bola Tinubu and vowing to ensure he secures not just a second term but remains in power beyond 2027.
Notably, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force have remained silent since Igboho made the threats, raising questions about the selective application of the law — particularly given that President Tinubu himself would need to campaign freely in other regions of the country where similar threats could be made against him.
In a viral video that has generated widespread debate, Igboho declared that neither Atiku nor Obi would be allowed to campaign in Yorubaland, warning anyone who dares to campaign for either politician in the region.
“No more useless Atiku or Obi in Yorubaland. If you know that you are crazy, campaign for one Atiku or Obi in Yoruba region,” the activist declared.
Igboho went further, pledging total support for President Tinubu not only for a second term in 2027 but beyond the constitutionally permitted eight years.
“Tinubu for second term; beyond 2027. 100 per cent. After eight years of Asiwaju, we’ll pray for extra years. Throughout Lagos and Yorubaland, it’s for Asiwaju. We will all vote for him,” he stated.
The threat has raised alarm among opposition supporters and civil society groups, who argue that such declarations amount to voter intimidation and a violation of the constitutional right of Nigerians to freely associate and campaign for candidates of their choice anywhere in the country.
Reacting to the development, Momodu addressed Igboho directly, appealing for restraint and peaceful conduct.
“My dear brother Sunday Igboho OOSA, let me appeal to you to support any candidate of your choice, PEACEFULLY, and others will support theirs, FREELY. Atiku or Obi cannot be stopped by you, or anyone else for that matter, from campaigning in any part of Yorubaland or Nigeria as a whole,” Momodu stated.
The media mogul said while he respected Igboho’s preference for President Tinubu, the activist should avoid threatening fellow citizens and should preach peace rather than war.
Momodu concluded his message with warmth, sending his love and goodwill to Igboho and his family.
The controversy has also drawn in human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who had described Igboho’s activism as “amala politics” — a term suggesting transactional and self-serving political behaviour.
Igboho fired back through his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, strongly rejecting the characterisation. In a detailed statement, Igboho insisted that his activism is focused on protecting lives, property, and communities in Yorubaland, not on transactional politics.
“We strongly reject the characterisation of Igboho’s activism as transactional. Such a myopic position misrepresents the intent and focus of our agitation on effective grassroots security in the South-West, and Nigeria as a whole,” the statement read.
Igboho also took a personal shot at Sowore, questioning the activist’s credibility and lifestyle.
“How many protests did Sowore organise to push for my freedom? Sowore’s claim of fighting for the masses contradicts his daily lodging expenses of N450,000 at a popular Lagos hotel,” the statement added.
Igboho emphasised that he cannot be compelled to endorse any other political figure, insisting that his decisions are guided by the security and collective interests of the Yoruba people. He highlighted ongoing threats in the region, including kidnappings, killings of farmers, and attacks on traditional rulers, arguing that his movement is a response to tangible security challenges rather than political ambition.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the entire episode is the silence of the security agencies. Despite Igboho’s open threat to prevent opposition politicians and their supporters from exercising their constitutional right to campaign in Yorubaland, neither the DSS nor the Nigeria Police Force has issued any statement condemning the threats, summoning Igboho for questioning, or reaffirming the right of all political parties to campaign freely across all parts of Nigeria.
This silence stands in contrast to the treatment Igboho received under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, when the activist was declared wanted, had his Ibadan residence raided by DSS and military operatives, was denied a Nigerian passport, and had his bank accounts frozen — despite court rulings in his favour — all in connection with his campaign against armed Fulani herdsmen in the South-West.
Critics have pointed out the irony that President Tinubu himself will need to campaign in every region of the country in the lead-up to the 2027 elections, and that tolerating threats against opposition campaigners in one region could set a dangerous precedent that encourages similar threats against the President’s own supporters in other regions.
Igboho’s threat came barely two months after his return to Nigeria from exile on January 26, 2026, following the removal of his name from the Federal Government’s list of wanted persons.
The activist had fled Nigeria on July 1, 2021, after the DSS and Nigerian Army raided his Ibadan residence over allegations of stockpiling arms and ammunition. The raid came amid Igboho’s intense campaign to dislodge armed Fulani herdsmen occupying forests in the South-West who were also killing and abducting farmers.
His return was facilitated by appeals from prominent traditional rulers, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon Oba Francis Alao, among other prominent Nigerians, who appealed directly to President Tinubu on his behalf.
Since his return, Igboho has positioned himself as a staunch supporter of the Tinubu administration while continuing his security advocacy in the South-West, a dual role that has drawn both praise from some quarters and criticism from others who question whether his activism has become politically motivated.
Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, every citizen has the right to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom of movement. Political parties and their candidates have the right to campaign for votes in every part of the country without interference, intimidation, or threats of violence.
Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right of every person to assemble freely and associate with other persons, including the right to form or belong to any political party. Section 39 guarantees freedom of expression, while Section 41 guarantees freedom of movement throughout Nigeria.
Any attempt to prevent political campaigns in any region of the country on the basis of ethnic or political allegiance would constitute a violation of these fundamental rights and could potentially attract criminal liability.
Legal practitioners have noted that the failure of security agencies to respond to Igboho’s threats sends a troubling signal about the state of democratic freedom ahead of the 2027 elections.
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