Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, has described AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore as a “public nuisance,” saying his criticism of President Bola Tinubu lacks maturity.
Afegbua made the remark on Arise News while responding to Sowore’s reaction to the hostile reception the President received at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, on Friday, November 13.
President Tinubu had attended Juma’at prayers at the mosque when youths were heard chanting “Ba ma yi, ba ma so,” loosely translated as “We don’t want you,” as his convoy made its exit. Footage of the incident spread quickly across social media, sparking debate about the President’s popularity ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sowore took to X to accuse Tinubu of hypocrisy, questioning why the President was suddenly preaching peaceful campaigns after facing hostility firsthand, and demanding answers on alleged attacks against opposition figures nationwide.
“I don’t want to listen to all of Sowore’s rants because I see him more as a public nuisance,” the commissioner said, adding that anyone seeking to govern more than 250 million Nigerians must carry themselves with discipline.
According to him, “Leadership is a serious responsibility, and you cannot go around making flippant, ridiculous and reckless statements in the name of presenting yourself as a presidential candidate.”
Beyond the personal criticism, Afegbua questioned whether Sowore’s party could mount a credible nationwide campaign. He argued that building a functional political machine across all 774 local government areas would be a tall order for the AAC flagbearer.
Still, he conceded that figures like Sowore serve a purpose, giving frustrated Nigerians an outlet to voice their grievances.
Afegbua also moved to shield the President from suggestions that his call for enhanced security for candidates was a knee jerk response to the Abuja embarrassment. He revealed that Tinubu had, two to three weeks earlier, directed the DSS and other security agencies to guarantee adequate protection for all presidential hopefuls.
He further noted that Tinubu’s years in opposition had hardened him politically, but stressed that the office he now occupies demands statesmanship beyond partisan loyalty.
“President Tinubu is not just a member of the party. He’s also the leader of the entire country,” Afegbua said, insisting the President has shown that every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, has a place in his administration.
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