The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused President Bola Tinubu of hypocrisy over his directive to security agencies to deal firmly with politicians and their supporters involved in political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sowore accused the president of condemning political violence only after experiencing hostility himself, while allegedly remaining silent over attacks on opposition figures and supporters across the country.
In a statement reacting to Tinubu’s directive, the AAC presidential candidate questioned why the president had suddenly become concerned about peaceful, issue-based campaigns following the rejection chants and reported attack on his convoy at the Shagari Mosque in Abuja on Friday.
“Oh, so now that you, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have been confronted and embarrassed in a mosque, you have suddenly discovered that political campaigns should be issue-based and devoid of violence?” Sowore asked.
He also questioned Tinubu’s response to reported killings involving supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, asking where the president’s condemnation was when the incidents occurred.
Sowore further recalled the October 30 attack on him and his team members in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, alleging that Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Student Engagement, Sunday Simon, and his son-in-law, Oyetunde Ojo, who heads the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), were involved.
He said he had publicly demanded an independent investigation into the attack but that the principal suspects identified by his team had yet to be brought to justice.
The AAC candidate also cited the attack on a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in Lagos, where thugs reportedly disrupted a gathering at which former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi was scheduled to address supporters.
He equally referenced deadly political violence involving APC supporters in Enugu State, arguing that the president’s latest position contradicted the government’s handling of previous incidents.
Sowore accused Tinubu of preaching peaceful campaigns only when political hostility affected him personally, while allegedly celebrating attacks on political opponents.
“You cannot preach peaceful, issue-based campaigns only when political hostility reaches your doorstep, while rejoicing after your people arrange and attack political opponents of your evil All Progressives Congress party,” he said.
Tinubu had earlier condemned reports of violence accompanying political activities in different parts of the country and directed security agencies to take decisive action against politicians and their supporters involved in thuggery and activities capable of disrupting public order.
The president, in a statement on Friday, November 13, warned that his administration would not tolerate political violence as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
“Our campaigns should be about issues, a contestation of ideas that promote the welfare of our people and the progress of our country,” Tinubu said.
He also maintained that political differences should not turn political opponents into enemies, insisting that Nigerians belonged to the same national community regardless of their political affiliations.
“I have said that being in different political parties or pursuing different ambitions does not make us enemies,” he stated.
Reiterating his directive to security agencies, Tinubu said they must act firmly against anyone seeking to undermine public order.
“Security agencies are therefore authorised to confront thuggery and other anti-social and anti-democratic activities with full force,” the president added.
The directive followed an incident at the renovated Shagari Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, where Tinubu reportedly encountered rejection chants from some members of the crowd shortly after attending Friday prayers.
Some individuals were also reported to have thrown stones and other objects towards the president’s departing convoy.