The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has explained why he did not attend the national summit of opposition parties held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Sowore said Nigeria needs credible alternatives to the current administration, not what he described as “recycled failures.”
“The nation needs genuine alternatives to the current government and not recycled failures,” he stated.
The summit, held on Saturday in Ibadan, attracted several prominent opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Rotimi Amaechi.
Also in attendance were former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Senate President David Mark, among others.
Sowore criticised the calibre of politicians present at the gathering, accusing them of contributing to Nigeria’s challenges.
He described them as individuals who “held Nigeria to ransom for years, presiding over stagnation, corruption, and systemic decay.”
The activist maintained that his party would not be part of any coalition aimed at rebranding old political figures.
“We will not be part of any charade designed to recycle failed political actors under the guise of opposition,” he said.
Sowore said the AAC would instead focus on building a credible alternative rooted in accountability and reform.
“We are committed to presenting a formidable, people-driven alternative, one rooted in integrity, accountability, and genuine transformation,” he added.
He further stated that the party would mobilise Nigerians against what he described as the failures of both the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, and Labour Party.
“Nigeria does not need a rearrangement of the same broken pieces, it needs a complete break from the past,” Sowore said.