The President of the Niger Delta Congress (NDC) has been arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
The Nigeria Police Force detained the NDC president over the group’s planned protest against President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. He was arrested on Tuesday and has remained in custody since then.
A source familiar with the situation told SaharaReporters that the police initially invited the NDC spokesperson, Mudiaga Ogboru, for criticizing the emergency rule and for encouraging the people of the Niger Delta to exercise their civil rights through protests or other means to express their disapproval of the presidential directive.
“The police sent an invitation to the spokesperson of the Niger Delta Congress, Mudiaga Ogboru, for criticizing the emergency rule in Rivers and for urging the people to speak up and exercise their civil rights—whether through protests or other means—to express their discontent with the presidential order. Instead of waiting for him, they arrested our president,” the source stated.
Confirming the development, NDC spokesperson Mudiaga Ogboru said he received invitations from both the Lagos State and Rivers State Police Commands regarding their planned protest against the emergency rule. “Since they could not apprehend me, they proceeded to arrest our president in Port Harcourt,” he explained.
A copy of the invitation letter obtained reads:
Sir/Madam,
INVITATION TO THE POLICE STATION
You are invited to meet the Officer in Charge, SID, at the above-named Police Station/Post in connection with a case reported on March 23, 2025. This is simply a fact-finding invitation, and your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. Upon arrival, please report to the Officer in Charge, SID, at the SID OFFICE, Ikeja, Lagos.
Looking forward to seeing you on or before March 25, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
The arrest of the NDC president has sparked outrage among activists and civil rights groups, who see it as an attempt to silence dissenting voices against the controversial emergency rule imposed by President Tinubu in Rivers State.
The Tinubu administration’s decision to impose emergency rule in Rivers State has faced widespread condemnation, with critics arguing that it undermines democracy and suppresses opposition in the oil-rich region.
