African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress and accused its candidate, Peter Obi, of renting political parties during election seasons, saying his moves are meant to help the ruling establishment deflect public anger rather than liberate Nigerians.
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Sowore made the remarks in a statement posted on X ahead of the 2027 general election. Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform, has since moved to the NDC.
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Sowore accused the NDC of exploiting the political process, claiming its leaders made ₦9 billion from selling nomination forms while running the party from their living rooms. He described the party’s leaders as opportunists and “packaged political frauds.”
He portrayed Obi as an unprincipled politician who changes platforms before each election without offering a genuine challenge to the political establishment. According to Sowore, the purpose is to divert public anger and avoid the consequences of their actions rather than to confront the system.
Claims about Tinubu and Obi’s allies
Sowore further alleged that Obi and his allies are not truly opposed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, but are instead seeking to manage opposition to him without mounting a challenge strong enough to end his government. He referred to a remark attributed to Datti Baba-Ahmed, Obi’s 2023 running mate, describing Tinubu as their “favourite uncle.” He also accused supporters of Obi and other political figures of trying to discredit critics and distract Nigerians from the country’s underlying problems. He named Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Abia State Governor Alex Otti among those he alleged had helped promote such narratives, and insisted Nigerians would not be fooled.
What Sowore actually said
Sowore’s statements are allegations from a rival presidential candidate with a direct stake in the 2027 race. He did not publicly present evidence for the ₦9 billion claim or for his assertion that Obi and his allies are shielding Tinubu, and the report includes no response from Obi, the NDC, Adeleke, Otti or Baba-Ahmed. The remark he attributed to Baba-Ahmed also has not been independently confirmed in this account. As the opposition field takes shape for 2027, exchanges of this kind between rival camps are likely to continue.
Sowore also accused supporters of Obi and other political figures of attempting to discredit critics and distract Nigerians from what he described as the country’s underlying social and political problems.
He named Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Abia State Governor Alex Otti among those he alleged had helped promote narratives that distract from these issues.
“But we cannot be fooled,” Sowore said, insisting that the politicians he criticised were delaying what he described as the liberation of Nigerians.
The AAC candidate further alleged that Obi and his allies were not genuinely opposed to Tinubu’s administration but were instead seeking to manage opposition to the president without mounting a strong challenge to his government.
“They don’t oppose Tinubu; they simply don’t want anyone to oppose him strongly enough to bring his disastrous reign to an end. Their politics is about managing opposition, not confronting the system,” he said
Sowore also referred to a remark attributed to Datti Baba-Ahmed, Obi’s former running mate in the 2023 presidential election, describing Tinubu as their “favourite uncle”.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, has since moved to the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.
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