Police Arrest Niger Delta Congress President Over Planned Protest Against Emergency Rule

The President of the Niger Delta Congress (NDC) has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the group’s planned protest against President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in the state. He is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Rivers State.

According to sources, the police initially invited NDC spokesperson Mudiaga Ogboru for questioning over his criticism of the emergency rule and his call for Niger Delta residents to exercise their civil rights through protests. However, instead of waiting for Ogboru’s appearance, authorities moved to arrest the NDC president instead.

Confirming the situation, Ogboru revealed that he had received two separate police invitations—one from the Lagos State Police Command and another from the Rivers State Police Command—both related to the planned protest. He stated that since the police could not reach him, they decided to detain the NDC president in Port Harcourt.

A copy of one of the police invitations, seen online, requested Ogboru’s presence at a police station for a “fact-finding” inquiry regarding a case reported on March 23, 2025. The invitation letter, issued by the Lagos State Police Command, asked him to report by March 25.

The arrest has triggered strong reactions from activists and civil rights groups, who view it as an attempt to suppress opposition and silence dissenting voices against the controversial emergency rule. Critics argue that President Tinubu’s decision to impose emergency rule in Rivers State is a direct threat to democracy and a means to stifle opposition in the oil-rich region.