There is growing outrage over the case of 15-year-old Yusuf Alabi, a supporter of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who has been held at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre since January this year.

Alabi gained national attention in 2023 after a viral photo showed him standing in front of Obi’s convoy during a rally in Lagos. The image became a symbol of hope for Nigerian youth, with many supporters rallying behind him.

Peter Obi, shocked by the boy’s detention, expressed his concern on social media, urging authorities to respect the rule of law. He also revealed that he had contacted lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who has been working hard to secure Alabi’s release.

Obi called on the police and government officials to operate within the law, warning against using citizens, particularly the youth, as political tools.

Effiong visited the facility where Alabi is being held and shared his findings on Facebook. After interviewing Alabi, the lawyer explained that the boy was abducted by local “area boys” in January while returning from work.

The area boys had been threatening him for not sharing the money he received after the viral photo with Obi. Effiong revealed that after the abduction, Alabi was taken to Amukoko Police Station, where he was falsely charged with armed robbery alongside four strangers.

Effiong found the charges suspicious, noting that Alabi had been wrongly accused of robbing two victims of N579,000 in cash and phones. After his investigation, Effiong concluded that Alabi is another victim of Nigeria’s flawed criminal justice system.

Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju also reacted, mentioning how such injustices are part of the daily struggles faced by the country’s poor and helpless citizens.

Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the Take-it-Back Movement, has made it clear he wants nothing to do with the proposed alliance between former presidential hopefuls Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Politics Today, Sowore said he has no plans to align with the Social Democratic Party or any coalition that includes the usual political faces. He stressed that his focus remains on building a movement with ordinary Nigerians, not recycling failed alliances.

“I’m not joining any coalition,” he said. “The kind of coalition they formed in 2013 and 2015 gave us the APC, and now they want to repeat the same play in 2025. That’s not the path to real change.”

Sowore argued that partnering with the same political actors responsible for Nigeria’s problems would only harm the people further.

“The coalition we need is one made up of the oppressed. I will never join a group made up of those who helped destroy the country. I’m not interested in the SDP or in political games that toy with the future of Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, Atiku, Obi, and former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai have started talks aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Atiku spoke about the plan during a press conference hosted by a group of concerned political leaders and stakeholders.

He cautioned the current government against placing personal power above national interest, warning that ignoring the principles of democracy and federalism could push Nigeria into a dangerous political crisis.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi are reportedly in talks to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), according to Adewole Adebayo, the SDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

Adebayo revealed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he shared that discussions are ongoing through close associates of both Atiku and Obi. He mentioned that the SDP is open to welcoming them into the fold.

He added that the party had recently admitted a former governor from Kaduna State, who is also a key member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), signaling a shift in the political landscape. Adebayo emphasized that the SDP is experiencing growth as more individuals join, but there is a need for a cultural shift in politics, particularly regarding internal rules and procedures.

When asked directly about Obi’s potential move to the SDP, Adebayo confirmed that while talks are taking place, nothing is official until a formal announcement is made. He mentioned that he had received updates from party officials, including the Financial Secretary, about the ongoing discussions.

Adebayo also stressed that the SDP would only accept politicians who align with the party’s values and adhere to its democratic processes. “If they are willing to follow our transparent and credible internal processes, we can work together to offer Nigerians a real alternative,” he added.