Sowore slams opposition coalition efforts, Calls them a boost for Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election

Amidst intensified political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Omoyele Sowore, leader of the African Action Congress (AAC) and a former presidential candidate, has sharply criticized ongoing opposition unity efforts, labeling them as ideologically bankrupt and strategically flawed.

According to Sowore, these efforts risk inadvertently strengthening President Bola Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term rather than posing a credible challenge.

Speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” Sowore asserted that the proposed alliances are a diversion from the genuine needs of the Nigerian people. “What they’re doing will only make it easier for Tinubu to run again and return to power,” he declared. “They’re blocking the rise of a genuine, organic coalition of the oppressed. Nigerians are being misled into thinking these politicians are fighting for them.”

Sowore condemned the current opposition coalition talks as superficial and lacking in ideological clarity, questioning the conviction and integrity of those leading them.

“I’m not the lonely voice — the coalition itself is what’s lonely. They can’t even meet or decide on a party. Now they’re talking about registering a new one. That’s not unity; that’s confusion,” he added, emphasizing, “Any coalition without ideology is a coalition without a soul.”

His remarks come as key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (PDP’s 2023 flagbearer), are actively pursuing a unified front.

Atiku has reportedly engaged in discussions with Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently switched from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

However, internal divisions persist. The PDP Governors’ Forum has publicly distanced itself from Atiku’s coalition initiatives, citing concerns about party destabilization.

Peter Obi has also stressed that his support for any alliance hinges on its commitment to resolving Nigeria’s governance challenges, rather than mere power grabs. El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP has further complicated the landscape, with the SDP leadership clarifying that no formal alliance has been established with either him or Atiku.

In stark contrast to these elite-driven discussions, Sowore advocated for a grassroots, people-driven alternative. “Nigerians need to stop relying on these politicians and begin building their own solutions. If they don’t, they’ll find themselves in an even worse situation. That’s been the pattern since the return to civil rule,” he cautioned.

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He also challenged the legitimacy of Nigeria’s current political framework, arguing that true democracy has yet to materialize.

“We don’t have democracy in Nigeria. What we have is a mere transition to civil rule. What we need now is real democracy.”

Sowore unequivocally distinguished between genuine grassroots activism and what he termed opportunistic coalition-building. “I lead the coalition of the oppressed — not the coalition of the hungry, which is what people like [Rotimi] Amaechi are trying to form,” he stated, referring to recent comments from former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi about “hunger” in the land, which some have interpreted as a call for opposition unity based on shared grievances.

When asked if Nigerians should place any hope in the Tinubu administration amidst worsening economic conditions, Sowore was blunt in his response: “There is no hope in the Tinubu administration. Things are getting worse under him.”