The Powerful Have Always Been After Me” – Sowore Makes Explosive Claim

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that members of Nigeria’s political establishment have long targeted him because of his activism and criticism of those in power.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Sowore made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, where he argued that his legal battles stem from his long-standing opposition to corruption and abuse of power.

The activist and former presidential candidate was recently released from the Kuje Correctional Centre after meeting bail conditions set at ₦200 million in a criminal defamation case instituted by the Federal Government over remarks in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

Speaking during the interview, Sowore maintained that he was not being prosecuted over the legal interpretation of free speech but because of his consistent advocacy for accountability and the rights of Nigerians.

“I’m not being tried over the definition or boundaries between free speech and criminal defamation. I’m being punished by people in power for standing up for my rights and the rights of other Nigerians. It didn’t start today,” he said.

“They have a historical anger against me. It is an issue between me and the ruling class in Nigeria, whom I believe have been destroying the country. They believe I have stood in the way of corruption and impunity.”

Sowore further alleged that the country’s security agencies and political leaders were behind the actions taken against him, insisting that the reasons publicly given for his arrests did not reflect the true motivation.

“Our security agencies, their leaders, and those in power are the people fighting me. Forget about the reasons they give for arresting me,” he said.

He also cited previous experiences, including the seizure of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate and his expulsion from the University of Lagos, claiming both were consequences of his political activism.

“What reason did they give for seizing my NYSC certificate? They said I discussed politics in 1996 when the military was in power. Why was I expelled from the University of Lagos? Because I participated in protests,” Sowore added.