- Omoyele Sowore has claimed President Tinubu's rise to power was due to manipulation, not a fair election
- Sowore blasted Tinubu for focusing on silencing critics instead of addressing Nigeria’s pressing issues like insecurity, economic instability, and healthcare
- Sowore then reaffirmed his stance that the 2023 elections were flawed, calling them an exercise in "vote allocation" rather than a true reflection of the people's will
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), has once again raised concerns about the legitimacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ascent to power.
In a candid interview on VOP TV, Sowore accused Tinubu of securing his position through manipulation rather than a legitimate electoral process, claiming that the 2023 general elections were tainted with irregularities.
“The Nigerian people did not elect Tinubu,” Sowore stated, asserting that the president’s victory was the result of a process "riddled with vote allocation" orchestrated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Sowore’s remarks have reignited the ongoing debate over the credibility of the 2023 elections and whether they truly reflected the will of the people.
In his strong criticism of Tinubu’s presidency, Sowore pointed to the administration’s defensiveness, suggesting that those who are genuinely supported by the people do not need to fear criticism.
“If you are legitimately the leader of the people and you are working for them, why will you be worried about criticism? This is the behaviour of a leadership that knows its foundation is compromised,” he expressed.
Sowore's comments came in response to statements made by Felix Morka, the publicity secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who had recently warned Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, over his continued criticism of the Tinubu administration.
Obi had condemned the state of the country under Tinubu’s leadership, pointing to the worsening political, economic, and security conditions as evidence of the government’s failure.
Morka’s response, which suggested that Obi "has it coming to him," was dismissed by Sowore as part of a broader pattern of defensive leadership that silences critics through threats and insults.
“This has been the nature of defensive leadership in Nigeria. Instead of solving problems, they hire people skilled in insults to silence critics,” he added.
Sowore, a long-time advocate for justice and democracy, has been vocal about the flaws in Nigeria’s political system.
During the interview, he reiterated his belief that the 2023 elections were not a true reflection of the people’s will, but rather an exercise in "vote allocation" facilitated by INEC. He further criticised the role of the electoral body, accusing it of selecting leaders rather than allowing Nigerians to freely choose their representatives.
“What we witnessed in 2023 wasn’t an election; it was an exercise in vote allocation,” he declared.
Sowore also questioned the priorities of Tinubu’s administration, accusing the president of focusing on silencing dissent instead of addressing the country's numerous challenges. He expressed concern over the government's apparent preference for employing individuals to issue threats and insults rather than tackling critical issues such as insecurity, economic instability, and healthcare deficiencies.
“Why would a president prioritise hiring people to attack critics instead of solving the problems Nigerians face daily? This approach reveals a government that is out of touch with its people,” he further stated.
How I turned down N800,000 from MKO Abiola — Sowore
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, recalled his encounter with the late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of Nigeria's annulled 1993 presidential election.
Sowore, speaking on Honest Bunch podcast hosted by Nedu, Husband Material, Deity Cole, and Ezinne, revealed how, at the age of 21, he turned down a generous offer of N800,000 from Abiola during a pivotal moment in Nigerian history.
