Omoyele Sowore
Iyunade Grace
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, making the announcement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on May 22, 2026. The former AAC candidate confirmed that he remains in the race and said his party’s primaries are scheduled for next week. When pressed on whether he expected to emerge as the sole aspirant, he deferred to the party’s internal process, stating that it should decide who its candidates are.
Sowore framed his decision as a response to what he described as the failure of Nigeria’s established political class to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. He argued that the political ideas and policies of leaders across both the ruling party and the main opposition have kept the country trapped in poverty, insecurity, and economic hardship. According to him, the country’s current trajectory reflects a leadership model that prioritizes elite interests over public welfare, and he positioned his campaign as a break from that pattern.
The activist-turned-politician said his movement is focused on systemic reforms and accountability, with an emphasis on governance structures that deliver for everyday Nigerians. He has consistently presented himself as an alternative to both APC and the traditional opposition blocs, campaigning on issues of social justice, youth inclusion, and a restructuring of how power is exercised. For Sowore, the 2027 election is less about individual personalities and more about rejecting the continuity of policies he believes have produced recurring cycles of pain and instability.
On party logistics, Sowore disclosed that the African Action Congress has not yet submitted its final membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission. He referenced a recent court judgment that allows political parties to reopen their registration portals, noting that AAC had never closed its own. The party began online registration in 2018, well before INEC made it a requirement, and claims to have been the only party to submit a complete register in 2022.
This is not Sowore’s first attempt at the presidency. He ran under the AAC banner in both 2019 and 2023, using those campaigns to push a message of radical reform and anti-corruption. While his vote share remained small compared to the major parties, he maintained visibility through activism and consistent criticism of successive administrations. His persistence has made him one of the most recognizable figures outside the two-party mainstream.
His latest declaration comes at a time when political alignments for 2027 are already being tested. Several figures from within the ruling party and opposition have signaled interest, and the AAC primaries will be an early indicator of how Sowore’s base intends to mobilize. He has not indicated whether he will seek alliances, but his public comments suggest he intends to run on a platform distinct from the consensus-building approach of other contenders.
Sowore’s comments on Channels TV also touched on the broader state of party administration in Nigeria. He argued that many parties only engage with digital registration and internal democracy when compelled by INEC or the courts. For him, the AAC’s early adoption of online membership and transparent record-keeping is proof that alternative models of party organization are possible without reliance on patronage networks.
The announcement sets up another test of whether Sowore’s message can translate into broader electoral support beyond his activist base. With the primaries approaching, the next few weeks will clarify whether he faces internal challengers within AAC and how the party intends to position itself in a crowded field. For now, his position is clear: he plans to contest, and he is betting that public frustration with the status quo will create an opening for a different kind of campaign.
