Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has sharply criticized the newly formed opposition coalition, warning that many of its prominent figures lack the moral integrity required to lead Nigeria.
Appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Sowore dismissed the coalition as a gathering of compromised politicians.
He argued that he could not, in good conscience, align with individuals he claims have repeatedly betrayed the public trust.
“There are just too many people in the coalition I can’t sit across the table from without being tempted to act out of character,” he said.
The opposition coalition — which includes political heavyweights such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 candidate Peter Obi, ex-governors Rauf Aregbesola and Nasir El-Rufai, and former Senate President David Mark — convened in Abuja on July 2, officially adopting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 general elections.
But Sowore was unequivocal in his disapproval. “These are people who have done what is regarded as evil, who lack conscience, character, and pedigree,” he asserted. “There’s no condition that can reform them.”
He accused members of the coalition of exploiting their past positions of power, stating that their records show a consistent pattern of corruption, dishonesty, and public deception.
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“I have documented their lifestyle, documented their ways of doing things, and documented their capacity,” Sowore said. “Any country handing over power from the current ruling party to this coalition is moving from destruction to perdition.”
He acknowledged that while a few individuals in Nigerian politics are genuinely committed to reform, many — across both the ruling and opposition blocs — are preparing to further exploit the country’s resources and citizens.
“They’ve all been in power before. You know their story. We’ve documented it,” Sowore said.
The opposition coalition claims it is working to unite progressive voices ahead of the 2027 polls.
But Sowore’s comments reflect deep divisions within Nigeria’s political alternatives and raise questions about whether true reform can emerge from familiar faces.