Sowore’s presidential campaign plan, ‘comedy’ — APC

National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has dismissed the presidential ambition of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, describing his plan to launch his campaign council at the Presidential Villa as a political comedy.

Basiru said Sowore, who was a student union activist alongside him, knew that such a request would not be approved, adding that the activist should first demonstrate his political strength by winning a seat in a state House of Assembly.

The APC national secretary spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today while responding to a question on whether the Presidency should allow Sowore to launch his presidential campaign council at the Presidential Villa after reportedly writing to seek approval.

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“I don’t work for the Presidency. I work for the party. He has not written,” Basiru said.

He added, “Sowore is a senior; I know he’s my friend. All of us were in the trenches in student union. He’s a skit maker. He knew that would not happen.

“Let him struggle to even get a seat in the House of Assembly as a political party, then people will begin to take him seriously. Even rejected ballot paper had more votes than his party in the 2023 election.

“So that means that rejected ballot paper is more popular than his political party. So he’s just making skits.”

Basiru further described the activist as a comedian, insisting that his presidential ambition should not be taken seriously.

“If I see him, I will tell him, ‘Sowore, you are just a comedian.’ You know, Awada, you know what they call comedy? He’s a comedian,” he said.

The APC national secretary also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would secure re-election in 2027, dismissing claims that the ruling party had lost support in northern Nigeria.

He argued that the APC’s control of most state governments in the region, alongside its performance in elections conducted since 2023, demonstrated its continued political strength.

Basiru also cited the party’s membership, which he put at 12.8 million, as evidence of its nationwide reach, insisting that no opposition party had a comparable grassroots structure.

On the administration’s economic performance, he said headline inflation had declined from 15.63 per cent in August to 14.63 per cent in September, describing the figures as evidence of improving economic stability.

He also listed the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said had paid school fees for about 1.6 million students and provided monthly stipends of N20,000, among the administration’s achievements.

Basiru further cited investments in healthcare, subsidised dialysis services and road infrastructure, claiming that at least 5,500 kilometres of roads had been constructed across the country under the Tinubu administration.

He maintained that the administration’s policies were laying the foundation for economic growth, despite public concerns over the cost of living and the rising prices of food, transportation and medicines.

The APC official also rejected opposition claims that the President was physically unfit to seek re-election, saying Tinubu remained capable of campaigning and directing the affairs of the country.

“If it’s about running as an athlete, I will say he cannot run as an athlete. But if it’s about fit to run campaign, to run governance, to direct the affairs of country, he’s fit as a fiddle,” Basiru said.

He added that he had stayed with the President until 3 am or 4 am and described him as agile, articulate and ready to work.

Basiru, who is also the Deputy Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said the ruling party would rely on its record in government and grassroots mobilisation to secure victory in the 2027 general election.