Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has urged caution in the growing trend of arrests linked to political speech, warning that it could undermine public trust in security institutions and weaken democratic stability.
Speaking on TV3, he argued that when political criticism is increasingly treated as a criminal matter, it risks creating an environment where security personnel feel empowered to act harshly against citizens.
He stressed that such developments could gradually erode civil liberties if not checked.
“If we don’t stop this, you will get emboldened security agents who abuse citizens,” he cautioned.
Kpebu pointed to his own past encounter with a soldier, where a disagreement escalated into an arrest after both parties exchanged insults, describing it as an example of how minor disputes can be wrongly escalated into legal issues.
He maintained that democratic governance must accommodate a wide range of expression, including satire and strong political criticism, without fear of retaliation.
According to him, overreaction to dissent by authorities risks shifting political engagement away from debate and into confrontation with law enforcement.
“There is room for political satire in every democracy,” he said, adding that criminalising harsh political commentary could discourage free speech and healthy public discourse.
Kpebu called for restraint from both political actors and security agencies, urging a return to principles that protect freedom of expression while maintaining public order.
