RismadarVoice Reporters
September 17, 2026
African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has firmly ruled out joining the opposition coalition seeking a single presidential candidate to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 election.
Sowore said neither he nor the AAC would participate in the coalition talks being coordinated by a Political Commission led by Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, declaring that the party’s political agenda was incompatible with the proposed alliance.
His position followed reports listing him among opposition figures expected to participate in closed-door consultations aimed at producing a common presidential candidate for 2027.
“For the avoidance of doubt, neither the African Action Congress nor I am part of these talks, and we will not be joining any such coalition,” Sowore said.
SOWORE CITES IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
Sowore said the AAC’s decision was based on ideological differences rather than political convenience or negotiations over access to power.
He argued that the party could not enter an alliance with politicians and political groups it had consistently opposed, saying some of those now presenting themselves as alternatives had previously operated within different established political parties.
According to him, the AAC is proposing what it describes as a different political programme centred on social and economic justice, equal rights, accountable government and changes to the distribution of political and economic power.
Sowore said the party would not abandon that programme merely to participate in an arrangement designed to produce a common opposition presidential candidate.
UTOMI-LED COMMISSION PUSHES SINGLE CANDIDATE
The Utomi-led political initiative is seeking consultations with selected presidential candidates and leaders of opposition parties as part of efforts to agree on a single candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The planned closed-door meetings are expected to address differences among participating political groups and explore the possibility of establishing a process for selecting a consensus candidate.
Sowore’s declaration, however, means the AAC does not consider itself part of the proposed arrangement and intends to pursue its own political programme ahead of the 2027 general election.
