Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has confirmed that he will once again seek Nigeria’s highest political office in the 2027 general election.
Sowore made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, where he also revealed that the party is already preparing for its internal selection process ahead of the polls.
When asked directly if he would be running in 2027, he responded affirmatively, saying, “Yes. We have our party primaries next week.”
However, he avoided positioning himself as the automatic flagbearer of the AAC, stressing that the decision rests with the party structure. “Well, let the party decide who their candidates are,” he added.
Addressing issues around the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s digital registration requirements for political parties, Sowore stated that the AAC had not fully completed its submission process. He referenced a court ruling which, according to him, allows the party to restart its registration steps. “We haven’t finally submitted, and that’s what this court judgment says. So if you have submitted now, the court says you can reopen your portal and start again. But we never stopped anyway,” he said.
Sowore also used the interview to restate his political ideology, arguing that Nigeria’s current challenges stem from long-standing leadership failures and urging citizens to consider alternative political choices beyond the established elite.
When questioned on why his ideas should be preferred over those of President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former presidential candidate Peter Obi, Governor Seyi Makinde, and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, he criticised the political class collectively. “Because all of the ideas of the people you mentioned brought Nigeria into this cycle of poverty, insecurity, pain, sorrow, and tears.
“Do you want Nigeria to continue to get these same people elected or selected, whichever way they get themselves into office, so that they can suffer more, so that those of us who have ideas that can liberate this country will not be listened to?” he said.
Reaffirming his intention to contest and win, Sowore insisted his ambition is driven by a desire to offer a different direction for the country. “Yes,” he said when asked if he was running to win.
“And it is because, as I’ve said several times, all the political parties are equal, and the better candidates should be able to win elections in this country, people with ideas.
“It’s different because these are different times also. Times are harder. Nigeria is in bigger trouble,” he stated.
Sowore previously contested the presidency under the AAC platform in the 2019 and 2023 general elections, consistently positioning himself as an alternative to Nigeria’s dominant political establishment while criticising both ruling and opposition parties over economic and security challenges.
The 2027 general election is expected to hold with presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Assembly polls are set for February 6, 2027.
