Amnesty International has condemned the cancellation of a planned public presentation of a book critically examining President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing the development as an attack on freedom of expression and intellectual engagement.
The human rights organisation accused the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, of yielding to political pressure by cancelling the scheduled presentation of Tinubu: From Renewed Hope to Despair: A Critical Examination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government.
The event, organised by the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria, was scheduled to hold on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Arewa House, Kaduna.
In a statement, Amnesty International expressed concern over what it described as an escalating pattern of political repression and intolerance of dissenting opinions across Nigeria.
The organisation further alleged that efforts by the organisers to secure an alternative venue in Kaduna were unsuccessful, as hotels and event centres reportedly declined to host the event, claiming they had been warned against accommodating it.
Amnesty International said the development raised serious concerns about the protection of fundamental freedoms, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and association.
It argued that the book, which examines government policies and their implications for Nigerians, represents a legitimate form of peaceful intellectual engagement and poses no threat to public peace.
According to the organisation, attempts to prevent the presentation reflect growing intolerance of critical opinions and risk creating an atmosphere of fear in which citizens find it increasingly difficult to express dissenting views.
The rights group maintained that in a democratic society, the criticism of government policies through publications, public discussions and intellectual debates should be protected rather than suppressed.
It called on the Nigerian authorities to end what it described as undemocratic restrictions on freedom of expression and urged ABU authorities to uphold their responsibility to protect academic freedom and open debate.
Amnesty International also demanded the immediate and unconditional reversal of the cancellation of the booking of Arewa House, Kaduna, for the presentation.
The organisation stressed that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful association must be respected and protected, regardless of the political sensitivity of the views being expressed.
