Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has disclosed that he declined an invitation to attend the opposition summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State, citing a lack of confidence in the political actors involved, Peak Newspaper reports
Sowore, who was invited to the gathering of opposition leaders, said his decision was based on his belief that the summit represented an attempt by long-standing political figures to rebrand themselves despite their past roles in Nigeria’s challenges.
In a statement shared on his social media platform, the African Action Congress (AAC) leader said Nigerians deserve a credible and genuine alternative rather than what he described as a recycling of failed leadership.
I declined the Ibadan Opposition Summit Nigerians deserve a genuine alternative, not recycled failure, he stated, adding that the same individuals who presided over years of stagnation, corruption and systemic decay cannot suddenly present themselves as agents of progress.
The summit, which brought together key opposition figures across parties, was aimed at fostering unity and possibly presenting a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, Sowore distanced himself and his party from the coalition, describing it as a political arrangement lacking credibility and integrity. He maintained that the AAC would instead focus on building what he called a people-driven movement rooted in accountability and genuine transformation.
He further criticised both the ruling and opposition parties, insisting that Nigeria’s political problems require a complete break from existing structures rather than a rebranding of the same actors.
