By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

Five men arrested in Borno State over their alleged involvement in the “Tinubu Must Go” campaign have been granted bail by a court, according to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The development followed the arrest and prosecution of the five men by the Borno State Police Command after they were found wearing T shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go”.

The ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufai, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, while calling for the immediate withdrawal of the charges against the defendants.

The men, identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abbacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed, were arrested in Maiduguri on September 25.

They were subsequently arraigned on allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

The police said the suspects were arrested during a routine patrol around West End Roundabout in Maiduguri. According to the Command, officers allegedly recovered 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot, scissors and two T shirts carrying the “Tinubu Must Go” inscription.

The Command has maintained that the arrest was not based solely on the political message displayed on the shirts, insisting that the suspects were apprehended over alleged conduct capable of causing public disturbance.

However, the ADC and other critics have disputed the circumstances of the arrest, arguing that the men were targeted because of their opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Rufai said the granting of bail followed sustained pressure from the party and other concerned Nigerians. He commended the defence lawyers for pursuing the matter and maintained that citizens should not be criminalised for expressing political views peacefully.

The ADC youth leader, however, demanded that the Borno State Government and security agencies discontinue the case and withdraw all charges against the five men.

He also criticised the handling of the matter by the Borno State Police Command, arguing that security agencies should give greater attention to the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram and other violent groups in the state rather than concentrating on youths expressing political opinions.

Rufai further questioned the circumstances under which police officers were deployed to effect the arrests, arguing that many rank and file personnel were themselves facing difficult economic conditions and should not be used to suppress legitimate political expression.

The ADC youth leader said the party would continue to campaign against Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that opposition to the administration would remain part of its political activities.

The arrest of the five men had earlier generated criticism from opposition politicians, rights activists and civil society groups.

On October 1, lawyer and rights activist Hamza N. Dantani petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, over the arrest, detention and prosecution of the men.

Dantani questioned what he described as possible selective enforcement by the Borno State Police Command, particularly regarding comments allegedly made by the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sayyina Buba, at a public gathering.

The activist noted that Buba had reportedly apologised over the remarks but questioned why he had not been subjected to similar police action while the five men were being prosecuted over their political T shirts.

The police have repeatedly denied acting on political grounds. The Borno Command described the Nigeria Police Force as a professional and non partisan institution that does not discriminate against citizens on the basis of political affiliation or viewpoint.

The Command also maintained that the suspects had been taken before a competent court and that the judicial process would determine the merits of the allegations against them.

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has equally denied ordering the arrest, stating that he neither authorised nor directed the detention of opposition politicians or individuals criticising his administration.

The controversy later extended to a fresh public display of the “Tinubu Must Go” slogan in Maiduguri, where youths reportedly appeared in similar white T shirts and marched through parts of the city.

The demonstration was seen as an expression of solidarity with the arrested men and renewed opposition to Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections. However, details concerning whether the procession had obtained formal approval from the relevant security authorities were not immediately established.

With the five defendants now out on bail, attention has shifted to the next stage of the legal proceedings as the ADC presses for the complete withdrawal of the charges and an end to what it considers the prosecution of citizens for peaceful political expression.