The coalition of yesteryear’s criminals and yesterday’s looters is now fully merged with the one led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They are one and the same! I love that their objective is now clear — to keep Nigeria in bondage.
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has fiercely rejected calls for him to join the newly-formed opposition coalition aimed at unseating the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sowore described the coalition as nothing more than a union of old political elites whom he considers indistinguishable from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, branding them collectively as “thieves and criminals.”
In a strongly worded post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Sowore minced no words in condemning the coalition, which includes several former and current political figures. He stated:
“The coalition of yesteryear’s criminals and yesterday’s looters is now fully merged with the one led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“They are one and the same! I love that their objective is now clear — to keep Nigeria in bondage. But this clarity is a gift. It allows their true victims, the Nigerian people, to build their own coalition of justice, resistance, and liberation.”
This response came a day after human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju publicly appealed to Sowore to set aside ideological rigidity and join the growing opposition bloc. Adeyanju had urged Sowore, via a post on X, to reconsider his political stance and collaborate with other opposition leaders to form a united front against the ruling party in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
In his message, Adeyanju acknowledged Sowore’s distinct political identity and integrity, writing: “I am fully aware that you are fundamentally different from the corrupt political elite that dominate Nigeria’s landscape. However, I humbly ask you to consider joining the coalition movement. Please disregard the potential criticism about compromising your long-held ideals or diluting your political values. We are facing extraordinary times, and such moments demand extraordinary decisions.”
However, Sowore was unequivocal in his response, firmly refusing to lend legitimacy to a coalition he believes is built on hypocrisy and corruption. In a lengthy statement posted on X, he made it clear that he would only align with what he called a “Coalition of Truth.”
Reeling off a long list of prominent politicians, Sowore detailed their alleged betrayals, abuses, and corrupt practices, positioning himself as a steadfast opponent of Nigeria’s entrenched political class. He declared:
“I did not join Bola Ahmed Tinubu in distributing heroin and cocaine in Chicago.
I did not join Atiku Abubakar in looting the Nigerian Customs dry.
I did not join David Mark when he stole funds meant to fix our telephones and later helped to crush our democratic hopes on June 12.
I did not join Abubakar Malami, SAN, in violating human rights and looting the treasury under Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
I did not join Nasir El-Rufai in massacring Shiites and fueling religious genocide in Southern Kaduna.
I did not join Peter Obi at the Tin Can Ports while he cleared goods for Sani Abacha, even as Abacha was dismantling Nigeria brick by brick.”
Sowore also extended his criticisms to other politicians across the board, stating: “I did not join Sule Lamido and the SDP traitors who sold out MKO Abiola and the will of the Nigerian people.
I did not join Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi while he gambled away Rivers State funds and abandoned the mini-rail project that had already been paid for.”
He reinforced his stance by affirming that his political principles remain untainted by alliances with Nigeria’s power-hungry elite:
“I have never joined an armed robbery gang. I have never pledged allegiance to any cult—no matter how popular, powerful, or fanciful. I have only one allegiance: to the oppressed, the disenfranchised, the cheated, and the silenced.”
Concluding his statement, Sowore emphasized his unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, and national transformation. He announced that he would only collaborate with forces genuinely committed to dismantling the corrupt system that has held Nigeria hostage for decades.
“I will join only those ready and willing to end this national nightmare created by these characters listed above. Let it be known: I stand with a vanguard of justice. A coalition of truth. A revolutionary team to restore the dignity of Nigerians. Nigeria must be free from these evildoers.”
Sowore’s passionate rejection of the coalition underscores his determination to maintain a political movement grounded in principle rather than convenience — one that seeks true liberation, rather than a rebranding of the same old political order.