Sowore noted that the AAC is a party fundamentally different in political and ideological direction from others.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has rejected the single-candidate coalition proposition led by Professor of Political Economy Pat Utomi, saying: ‘Count AAC out.’
He distanced himself and his party from the idea on Thursday in a now-trending post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page.
Earlier, Utomi had initiated a political commission with plans to hold closed-door meetings with shortlisted opposition presidential candidates and their party leaders as part of efforts to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement, the professor said the commission, which was “initiated by Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) to actualise Opposition Coalition for a Single Presidential Candidate in the 2027 Elections, has decided to meet shortlisted opposition presidential candidates and their party leaders behind closed doors ahead of its tactical session scheduled to hold in Ibadan in a fortnight.”
He noted that, “The rationale for the closed-door engagements by the body is to prevent sabotage from political mercenaries and jobbers opposed to the initiative and determined to frustrate the negotiations and horse-trading amongst the shortlisted presidential candidates.”
Utomi added: “Nigeria cannot afford another opposition arrangement in which political actors agree on the need for a united front but disagree when it becomes necessary to determine the arrowhead and rallying point of that electoral alliance.”
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However, reacting to the statement, Sowore argued that the AAC is a party fundamentally different in political and ideological direction from others.
He further explained that its revolutionary agenda is driven by ideological clarity, not political convenience, elite horse-trading, or desperation for access to power.
He concluded that, based on the aforesaid, the AAC cannot enter into a coalition with the same political establishment it has consistently opposed, stressing that many of the politicians now presenting themselves as an ‘alternative’ have, at different times, operated within the same political order across the APC, PDP, Labour Party, and other formations that have failed Nigerians.
Taking to his verified handle, Sowore said: “I have read a report stating that a Political Commission led by Prof. Pat Utomi intends to hold talks with several presidential candidates, including myself, with the objective of producing a single opposition presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
”For the avoidance of doubt, neither I nor the African Action Congress is part of these talks, and we will not be joining any such coalition. Our position is clear and principled.
”The AAC is offering Nigerians a different path: a revolutionary break from the old order and a programme founded on social and economic justice, equal rights, accountable government, and the redistribution of political and economic power to the Nigerian people.
”We will not abandon that programme for an arrangement whose principal objective is simply to replace one set of establishment politicians with another.”
