1 hour ago
1
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has explained why he will not join the Rainbow Coalition associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which is mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Sowore said he had no interest in becoming part of the political alliance, declaring that the coalition would not survive beyond the 2027 general elections.
The activist made the remarks on Thursday, October 22, while speaking at an event of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
His comments followed his party’s controversial request to use the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the inauguration of its presidential campaign council.
Sowore insisted that the request should not be interpreted as an attempt to align himself with Tinubu or politicians supporting the President’s re-election.
“My application to use Aso Rock to launch my presidential campaign council is not intended to join the Rainbow Coalition,” he declared.
“We are not part of any coalition with the man in Aso Rock.”
Explaining his rejection of the alliance, Sowore expressed doubts about its political future, predicting that it would collapse after the next general elections.
“I don’t want to be part of any Rainbow Coalition because it’s going to die after 2027. Whether it’s made in Port Harcourt, Lagos, or Osun State,” he said.
The Rainbow Coalition, promoted by Wike, brings together politicians from different political parties in support of Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Although Wike remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has repeatedly declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The FCT minister has also maintained that the coalition is not an APC structure but a cross-party arrangement designed to mobilise support for the President.
Sowore, however, said his party’s decision to seek permission to use the Presidential Villa was based on equal access to public facilities rather than political cooperation with the ruling party.
“We asked to use it because the APC uses it to do political events. So, since Aso Rock is our own, other political parties must be allowed to use it the way APC uses it,” he stated.
The AAC had on Wednesday, October 21, formally written to Tinubu requesting approval to inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council at the Villa on November 11.
The letter, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Oshiokhue Philip Ikpeminoghena, also requested food, drinks and logistical support for 5,000 participants expected at the ceremony.
The party argued that equal access to public institutions was essential to multiparty democracy and political fairness.
Its request came after Tinubu inaugurated the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Conference Centre on October 14.
The development generated political reactions, with APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru dismissing Sowore’s proposal during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
However, Sowore maintained that the Presidential Villa belonged to Nigerians and that opposition political parties should not be excluded from using public facilities available to the ruling party.
English (US) ·