He argued that these constitutional rights could not be denied by an individual, regardless of their traditional or political status.
A lawyer, Damilare Adenola, has criticised a reported declaration by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, barring presidential candidates other than President Bola Tinubu from campaigning in Osun State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adenola, in a statement issued on Sunday, described the reported declaration as unconstitutional, arguing that the traditional ruler lacked the legal authority to prevent political candidates from campaigning in any part of the state.
The lawyer said the reported position would effectively prevent candidates, including Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), from campaigning in Osun.
According to Adenola, Sections 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution guarantee citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and movement.
