Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has dismissed ongoing coalition efforts among opposition figures as counterproductive and lacking genuine purpose, warning that they may inadvertently strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s chances of re-election in 2027.
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Sowore argued that the current realignment of political forces is superficial and ideologically empty, doing little to offer Nigerians a viable alternative.
“It is what they [the coalition] are doing that will make it easy for him (Tinubu) to rerun and return to office. They are preventing the real, organic coalition of the oppressed from emerging,” Sowore said. “People are getting distracted — Nigerians actually think these guys are fighting for them.”
Sowore, known for his vocal activism and alternative political stance, described the coalition as disjointed and lacking character, noting that its backers have failed to present a cohesive platform or vision.
“Any coalition without ideology is a lonely coalition. There’s no coalition without conviction, character, or integrity,” he added.
His comments come amid increased political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general elections. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has recently been at the center of opposition talks, holding discussions with Labour Party’s Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite these talks, unity appears elusive. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has distanced itself from the proposed coalition, warning it could destabilize the party. Meanwhile, Peter Obi has emphasized that he will not join any alliance aimed solely at grabbing power, insisting that the focus must be on resolving Nigeria’s structural challenges.
Sowore, for his part, urged Nigerians to look beyond elite-driven politics and instead organize around grassroots movements with clear ideological direction.
“The people need to understand that the only way out is the one they design for themselves,” he said. “If you get distracted by all these conversations about coalitions, you are going to find yourself in a worse situation than now.”
