International IDEA urges the releases of Nigerian democracy leader

Press Release: 

International IDEA urges the releases of Nigerian democracy leader

Santiago de Chile, May 4, 1998 -- The Board of Directors of International IDEA has expressed grave concern about the recent arrest of Mr. Bola Ige, one of the leaders of the democracy movement in Nigeria.

"We are deeply concerned about the arrest on May 2 of Mr. Ige (Senior Advocate and former Governor of the then Oyo State, 1979-1983), one of the democracy leaders in Nigeria. The arrest of Mr. Ige, who was detained without charges and is currently kept in custody by the security forces, is one in a series of recent actions being taken by the Nigerian government to silence the democracy movement and human rights defenders in that country.

We express grave concern about the growing number of persons being detained without formal charges, the limited registration of political parties, the absence of dialogue with opposition and human rights activists, journalists and opposition leaders who are currently held without charge or trial. We also call on the Nigerian Government to take immediate action to restore democracy and the institutions which are essential to it, namely an independent judiciary, a free press, and an opposition that can function freely and where the people of Nigeria can express their dissent without fear of persecution."

International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) was founded in February 1995. The Institute’s overall objective is to promote and advance sustainable democracy world-wide and to improve and consolidate electoral processes. To date, Members are Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, India, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute, and Parliamentarians for Global Action. The Institute also has co-operative agreements with the International Commission of Jurists, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the United Nations Development Programme. Switzerland also contributes to the work of the Institute.