The Youth Arise Movement (YAM) has condemned the alleged harassment, intimidation and persecution of the Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) Omoyele Sowore, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

YAM in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary Comrade Mubarak Salisu on Tuesday described the continued targeting of Sowore as an assault on democratic rights, freedom of expression and political opposition in Nigeria.

The group said it was unacceptable for security agencies to be used to intimidate citizens for expressing concerns about governance, corruption, insecurity and economic hardship in the country.

YAM called for the immediate and unconditional release of Sowore and urged the DSS and called on other security agencies to end what it described as politically motivated harassment of activists and opposition figures.

According to the movement, democracy cannot flourish where dissenting voices are criminalised and political opponents are treated as enemies of the state.

The group also reminded the government that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees citizens the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and political participation, stressing that these rights must be respected.

YAM further called on civil society organisations, labour unions, youth groups, students, professional bodies and other stakeholders to resist what it termed the shrinking civic space in Nigeria.

The movement expressed solidarity with Sowore and other alleged victims of political persecution, pledging to continue advocating for justice, accountability and the protection of democratic freedoms.