An online publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the January 16, 2027 election, Omoyele Sowore, has come under fire on social media after mistakenly identifying Igbokoda, the site of the recent Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash, as being in Ese-Odo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State.
Sowore’s post, in which he said he visited the crash site in Igbokoda, Ese-Odo LGA, sparked reactions from social media users who pointed out that the community is in Ilaje LGA.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed into a swamp in Igbokoda, Ilaje LGA, on Monday, October 5, killing all 25 people on board.
In a post on his verified X handle, @sowore, on Friday, four days after the incident, Sowore said he visited the crash site to assess the situation.
“I took a Marine Police boat to the scene of the tragic Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, to personally assess the situation,” he wrote.
However, the post triggered criticism, with several users questioning how the presidential candidate, who hails from Ondo State, could mistake the two neighbouring local government areas.
One X user, @okorisag, wrote, “Igbokoda, Ese-Odo local government. A presidential candidate who isn’t familiar with his state and local government. Is Igbokoda not in Ilaje Local Government?
“This shows you aren’t a grassroots politician and are not really doing the necessary work to win, but are just enjoying the visibility that comes with contesting.”
Another user, @astracoth, said, “He’s not even familiar with his own area LGAs but want to govern Nigeria.”
Similarly, @Piousab described the error as “disgraceful”, given Sowore’s background in the state.
“Disgraceful that a presidential candidate and acclaimed son of the soil does not know that Igbokoda is in Ilaje Local Govt and not Ese-Odo LGA. You are just a Content Creator/SUG President,” the user posted.
Another X user, @WF_Sunky, clarified the geographical distinction between the two local government areas, writing, “Igbokoda is in Ilaje. It is Igbekebo that’s in Ese-Odo LGA.”
NDC Chieftain Accuses Sowore Of Copying Obi
A chieftain of the National Democratic Party (NDC) also criticised Sowore, accusing him of attempting to replicate the condolence visit made by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following the aircraft crash.
The chieftain said Obi had visited the Nigerian Air Force headquarters in Abuja two days after the incident to commiserate with the service’s leadership and sign the condolence register.
According to him, Sowore subsequently visited the crash site in a Marine Police boat, allegedly in an attempt to outdo Obi’s gesture.
“Two days after the crash, Obi visited the Nigerian Air Force headquarters in Abuja, to condole with the NAF leadership and sign the condolence register.
“Not to be outdone, Sowore, who is from the same Ondo State, decides to raise the bar by visiting the site in a police marine boat. The same Police he has been calling ‘useless’,” the chieftain said.
He also faulted Sowore for identifying Igbokoda as part of Ese-Odo LGA, noting that the AAC candidate studied Geography at the University of Lagos.
“A man who studied Geography at the University of Lagos, yet doesn’t understand the geography of a twin LGA in his home state, is talking about leading Nigeria, a country of 774 LGAs,” he said.
The chieftain described the situation as “a joke carried too far.”
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