Omoyele Sowore, activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has explained why he turned down an invitation to attend an opposition summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State, saying the gathering represented the recycling of old political actors rather than a genuine alternative for Nigerians.
In a post on X on Sunday, Sowore said he declined the invitation because, in his view, many of those involved had previously been part of governments that failed the country.
“I was invited to attend the so-called ‘Opposition Summit’ in Ibadan, but I declined,” he wrote.
He argued that it would be misleading to expect the same individuals who once held power to suddenly present themselves as champions of change.
“There is no need to pretend that the same men (and a few women) who held Nigeria to ransom for years, presiding over stagnation, corruption, and systemic decay, can suddenly reinvent themselves as champions of progress or defenders of the people. Not all Nigerians are suffering from amnesia.”
Sowore also stated that the African Action Congress would not associate itself with what he described as a political arrangement aimed at repackaging failed leaders under the opposition umbrella.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our revolutionary party, the African Action Congress, will not be part of any charade designed to recycle failed political actors under the guise of ‘opposition,’” he said.
He maintained that his movement remains committed to offering what he called a credible, people-driven alternative built on accountability, integrity, and transformation.
“Instead, we are committed to presenting a formidable, people-driven alternative, one rooted in integrity, accountability, and genuine transformation,” he added.
He further criticised major political parties across the board, accusing them of sharing similar ideologies and failing to deliver meaningful progress for Nigerians.
