Eshioromeh Sebastian
Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has disclosed that he declined an invitation to attend the National Summit of Opposition Political Parties held in Ibadan, describing the gathering as an attempt to “recycle failed political actors” and stating that Nigerians deserve a genuine alternative, not “recycled failure.”
In a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, the AAC leader explained why he was absent from the summit, which took place on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State, and was hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde.
“I was invited to attend the so-called ‘Opposition Summit’ in Ibadan, but I declined,” Sowore wrote. “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.”
Sowore criticised the political figures who attended the event, which included former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, among others.
“Not all Nigerians are suffering from amnesia,” Sowore said in his post.
The AAC leader reaffirmed that his party would not lend its platform to what he called a political charade.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our revolutionary party, the African Action Congress (AAC), will not be part of any charade designed to recycle failed political actors under the guise of ‘opposition,'” he stated.
He further emphasized that Nigeria requires a fundamental break from the political status quo, not a mere reshuffling of familiar faces and parties.
“Nigeria does not need a rearrangement of the same broken pieces; it needs a complete break from the past,” Sowore declared, adding that the AAC remains committed to presenting “a formidable, people-driven alternative, one rooted in integrity, accountability, and genuine transformation.”
The party, he said, would mobilize Nigerians to reject what he called the “decadence and deception represented by both the [ruling] All Progressives Congress (APC) and their opportunistic counterparts in ADC, PDP, Labour Party and elsewhere.”
Ibadan Summit: Coalition for a Single Candidate
While Sowore declined the invitation, the event itself drew a wide array of opposition leaders who agreed to form a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Held at the Banquet Hall of the Oyo State Government House in Agodi, the summit was themed “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democracy: A National Dialogue.”
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, opposition parties resolved to work towards fielding a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, which would be agreed upon and supported by all participating parties to challenge the APC.
The gathering, which included leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and other smaller parties, warned of alleged attempts by the APC to create a one-party state and vowed to resist such moves.
Key Resolutions of the Ibadan Declaration
The communiqué, read by PDP National Chairman Saminu Turaki and endorsed by the chairmen of the participating opposition parties, outlined several key demands and decisions:
· Single Presidential Candidate: The coalition formally agreed to harmonize interests and adopt a consensus presidential candidate to be supported by all opposition parties in the 2027 election.
· Removal of INEC Chairman: The opposition demanded the immediate resignation or removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, citing allegations of bias and partisanship in favor of the ruling APC. The communiqué stated that his continued stay in office was “vexatious and capable of triggering widespread crisis.”
· Review of Electoral Act: The parties called on the National Assembly to urgently review the Electoral Act, 2026, specifically targeting sections they claim threaten the integrity of elections.
· Extension of Primaries Deadline: The coalition rejected recent INEC guidelines, describing them as obstacles. They demanded that INEC extend the deadline for party primaries until the end of July 2026.
· Release of Detained Politicians: The opposition called for the immediate release of all politicians allegedly being detained or harassed over bailable offenses, insisting on their right to political participation.
Governor Seyi Makinde, in his remarks at the summit, warned against the drift toward a one-party state, describing it as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic foundation. However, he clarified that the summit was not aimed at any individual nor conceived as a platform for advancing specific 2027 presidential ambitions but rather aimed at strengthening democratic governance.
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