Sowore explains absence from Ibadan opposition summit, rejects ‘recycled political actors’

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has explained why he did not attend the national opposition summit held on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State, insisting that Nigeria requires genuine political alternatives rather than what he described as “recycled failures.”

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Sowore said his absence was deliberate, arguing that the gathering did not represent the kind of radical change needed to reposition the country.

The Ibadan summit brought together leading opposition figures from across Nigeria as part of early consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections. Prominent attendees included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Also present were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Senate President David Mark, and several other senior political figures from different opposition parties.

However, Sowore’s absence from the high-profile gathering drew attention, especially given his history of vocal opposition to Nigeria’s political establishment.

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Reacting to the summit, Sowore said the individuals involved have “held Nigeria to ransom for years, presiding over stagnation, corruption, and systemic decay.”

He stressed that the AAC would not participate in what he described as an arrangement aimed at recycling failed political actors under the guise of opposition politics.

According to him, the focus of his party is to build a “people-driven alternative” rooted in accountability, integrity, and genuine transformation.

Sowore further argued that Nigeria does not require a mere reshuffling of familiar political figures, but a complete departure from the existing political order.

“We will mobilize Nigerians across the country to rally behind a credible vision that rejects the decadence and deception represented by the ruling party and their opportunistic counterparts across other political platforms,” he said.

The Ibadan summit is part of ongoing political consultations among opposition blocs seeking to build alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections. Discussions reportedly centered on strategies for unseating the ruling party and presenting a united front.

While supporters of the initiative view it as a step toward political consolidation, critics like Sowore argue that it represents continuity rather than reform.

He maintained that Nigeria’s political future should not be built on “old structures with new labels,” insisting that the country needs a fundamental break from the past rather than adjustments within the same system.

The development highlights growing divisions within Nigeria’s opposition landscape as political actors begin early positioning ahead of the next general election cycle.