Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has confirmed that he will contest the 2027 presidential election.
Sowore disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Friday, where he revealed that the AAC was already preparing for its primary election.
When asked if he would be on the ballot again in 2027, Sowore responded, “Yes. We have our party primaries next week.”
The former AAC presidential flagbearer, however, stopped short of declaring himself the automatic choice of the party.
“Well, let the party decide who their candidates are,” he added.
Speaking further during the interview, Sowore commented on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s digital registration process for political parties, stating that the AAC had not completed its submission.
“We haven’t finally submitted, and that’s what this court judgment says. So if you have submitted now, the court says you can reopen your portal and start again. But we never stopped anyway,” he said.
During the discussion, Sowore also argued that Nigerians should move away from the country’s long-standing political establishment, insisting that the current political class had failed to address the nation’s challenges.
Asked why he believed his ideas were superior to those of President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, Sowore blamed Nigeria’s hardship on the political elite.
“Because all of the ideas of the people you mentioned brought Nigeria into this cycle of poverty, insecurity, pain, sorrow, and tears.
“Do you want Nigeria to continue to get these same people elected or selected, whichever way they get themselves into office, so that they can suffer more, so that those of us who have ideas that can liberate this country will not be listened to?” he said.
Sowore maintained that his ambition was not symbolic, insisting he was entering the race to win and provide what he described as a new direction for the country.
“Yes,” he said when asked if he was running to win.
“And it is because, as I’ve said several times, all the political parties are equal, and the better candidates should be able to win elections in this country, people with ideas.
“It’s different because these are different times also. Times are harder. Nigeria is in bigger trouble,” he stated.
Sowore previously contested the presidency under the AAC platform during the 2019 and 2023 general elections, presenting himself as an alternative to both ruling and opposition political blocs while repeatedly criticising the country’s leadership over economic hardship and insecurity.
Nigeria’s 2027 general election timetable currently places the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for F1ebruary 6, 2027.