Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has defended his party’s request to hold the inauguration of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, arguing that opposition parties should enjoy the same access as the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Sowore made the remarks on Thursday at an event organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, explaining that the request was prompted by the APC’s use of the facility for political activities.
The AAC had written to President Bola Tinubu seeking approval to inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council at the Villa ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We asked to use Aso Rock because the APC uses Aso Rock to do political party events. So we are saying, as a matter of right, since Aso Rock is our own, other political parties must be granted the opportunity to use Aso Rock the way APC uses Aso Rock,” Sowore said.
In addition to the venue, the party requested food, drinks and other logistical arrangements for attendees at the proposed inauguration scheduled for November 11, 2026.
A letter dated October 21 and signed by the AAC National Secretary, Oshiokhai Ikpeminioghena, stated that the request was anchored on multiparty democracy, political inclusiveness and equal treatment of political parties.
The party maintained that approving the request would affirm the Presidency’s commitment to fairness and demonstrate that public institutions were available to all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation.
The request triggered a disagreement between Sowore and the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, who criticised the AAC candidate and questioned the party’s electoral strength.
Sowore insisted that the move was aimed at securing equal access to the Presidential Villa. He also ruled out joining a proposed opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I don’t want to be part of your coalition because your rainbow coalition is going to die after 2027,” he said.
The AAC candidate also lamented the economic and social difficulties facing Nigerians, saying, “They have brought sorrow, and honestly, things are hard for the people of this country.”
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