Why I declined invitation to opposition summit — Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, a prominent activist and presidential candidate, has articulated a clear rejection of the recent opposition summit held in Ibadan, as reported by The Punch. His stance, rooted in a deep skepticism of Nigeria's established political class, offers a critical perspective on attempts to unify opposition forces.

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I was invited to attend the so-called ‘Opposition Summit’ in Ibadan, but I declined. There is no need to pretend that the same men (and a few women) who held Nigeria to ransom for years, presiding over stagnation, corruption, and systemic decay, can suddenly reinvent themselves as champions of progress or defenders of the people. Not all Nigerians are suffering from amnesia.

Sowore's refusal to attend the summit, which included figures like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, stems from his conviction that these individuals represent the "same men (and a few women) who held Nigeria to ransom for years." From the viewpoint of Sowore and his supporters, this summit is not a genuine effort towards progress but a "deceptive political arrangement" aimed at perpetuating the status quo.

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For the avoidance of doubt, our revolutionary party, the African Action Congress, will not be part of any charade designed to recycle failed political actors under the guise of ‘opposition.’

His declaration that his party, the African Action Congress, will not be part of "any charade designed to recycle failed political actors" highlights a core tenet of his political philosophy: a complete break from the past. This perspective contrasts sharply with the more pragmatic, coalition-building approach favored by other opposition leaders. Sowore's emphasis on a "people-driven movement rooted in integrity, accountability, and genuine transformation" positions him as an outsider challenging the very foundations of Nigerian politics.

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Instead, we are committed to presenting a formidable, people-driven alternative, one rooted in integrity, accountability, and genuine transformation.

What makes this story particularly resonant from Sowore's perspective, and likely from that of his publication or platform, is the framing of the political landscape as a binary choice between genuine change and recycled failure. While Western media might focus on the dynamics of opposition unity or political maneuvering, Sowore's narrative centers on the moral and ideological bankruptcy he perceives in the mainstream political actors. This is not just about elections; it's about a fundamental rejection of the current political culture.

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We will mobilise Nigerians across the country to rally behind a credible vision that rejects the decadence and deception represented by both the All Progressives Congress and their opportunistic counterparts in ADC, PDP, Labour Party and elsewhere.