By Major opposition parties in Nigeria have faulted the Federal Government over the arraignment of 27-year-old Innocent Onukwume, accused of calling for a coup via his X handle.
The opposition stated that his call for military rule reflected “growing frustration” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration rather than a genuine threat to democracy.
Onukwume was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services for allegedly calling for a military coup in tweets posted on his X account (@theagroman) in October, according to the charges filed against him.
The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/610/2025, alleged that Onukwume also sought assistance from members of the military to execute the alleged coup. While the ruling All Progressives Congress has defended the prosecution, opposition parties say the move exposes the government’s intolerance of dissent and its failure to acknowledge rising public anger.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party would never support an unconstitutional change of government but argued that the young man’s outburst should concern the authorities.
“The ADC does not support any unconstitutional change in government. We therefore do not support anyone calling for such action in any form. “Having said that, is there anybody left in this country, apart from the minority currently benefitting from the system, who thinks that this democracy is working for the people?” he asked.
“Instead of rushing to prosecute a frustrated young man who obviously doesn’t have the capability to effect such change, the government should have engaged him to understand the underlying issues that might have driven him to such a mindset,” Abdullahi added.
He noted that “extreme calls” for revolution or regime change were now “expressions of frustration and disillusion which have attained a new height under this APC government,” adding that a democratic government should “seek to protect first rather than prosecute.”
Similarly, the New Nigeria People’s Party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, also faulted the government’s response, accusing the APC of abandoning the democratic values it once championed.
“I feel that the way we react to things as a people, in many ways, is indicative of people still under the mentality of the military regime. “This particular government kept calling for the rule of law, democracy, and civil rights when it was in opposition. But it doesn’t seem to want to give Nigerians that same right now that it is in government,” Johnson said.
On his part, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party and founder of the Save Democracy Mega Alliance, Tony Akeni, accused the APC of hypocrisy, recalling the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protests.
“When Tinubu was in opposition, he led the masses and occupied Nigeria, Lagos in particular, and branches of these agitators carried an imitation coffin of former President Goodluck Jonathan. What this meant was that they wanted Jonathan dead. But nobody arrested them.
“Therefore, if the APC government is backing the DSS to prosecute this young man, they should also identify and charge all the people involved in that Occupy Nigeria protest, calling for the removal and death of Jonathan, to court with him.
“Because that was also a treasonable action that is equal to the military invitation alleged to have been mooted by this young man. So, let them go back to the video clips in their archives and arraign everyone who was in Tinubu’s protests at that time. It is only then that we will know there is justice at play in the country.”
Akeni also clarified speculation about his resignation from the LP, saying, “My declaration to step aside has been rejected by all organs of the party.”
The Peoples Democratic Party took a slightly different route, acknowledging the gravity of calling for a coup but insisting that the young man’s comments mirror widespread hardship.
According to the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Tim Osadolor, the man’s action reflects the current frustration of the masses.
He stated, “The young man is only recounting the hunger, suffering, and pains that Nigerians are going through daily. “While I may not endorse the return of the military, I want the APC-led government to realise that for Nigerians to be wishing for the return of the military days shows that their performance is abysmally poor.”
Osadolor warned that the same freedom of speech that democracy guarantees is what Onukwume is now being arraigned for.
“Instead of victimising the young man or trying to make an example of him, let the government sit up and do what is right to assuage the sufferings and killings of Nigerians going on unabatedly,” he said.
Civil rights groups also waded into the matter, describing the charges as excessive. The Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Rights, Hauwa Danladi, said the government was misplacing priorities.
“Calling for a coup is wrong and should never be encouraged, but prosecuting a young man who poses no real threat while ignoring the socio-economic pressures pushing citizens to despair is unjust,” Danladi said.
She added that democratic institutions become weaker when governments resort to “security-driven intimidation” rather than addressing the root causes of public frustration such as inflation, unemployment, and insecurity.
Meanwhile, the APC maintained that no democratic society would overlook a public call for the overthrow of a constitutional government.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, said the opposition was politicising a serious national security matter.
Morka said, “There is a clear line between free speech and incitement to commit a crime. Advocating a military coup is not an opinion—it is an unlawful act. This administration will always protect Nigeria’s democracy.”
The case is expected to come up for hearing in the coming weeks at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Onukwume faces charges that could attract significant penalties if he is found guilty.
