Omoyele Sowore, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has alleged that people in power in Nigeria have always shown what he described as a long-standing or ‘historic anger’ against him because of his activism and political stance.

He made these comments during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ shortly after his release from Kuje Correctional Facility, where he was recently held following a defamation case.The case reportedly involved a ₦200 million bail condition after he was accused by the government for calling President Bola Tinubu a ‘criminal’.

In the interview, Sowore insisted that his recent legal troubles were not truly about defamation, but rather a form of punishment for his consistent criticism of the government and advocacy for citizens’ rights.

He argued that security agencies, government officials, and the political elite have continually worked against him due to his activism against corruption and impunity in Nigeria.According to him, his struggles with the authorities are not recent, but part of a long pattern of confrontation with the ruling class.

He further referenced past incidents in his life to support his claims, including the alleged seizure of his NYSC certificate, which he said was linked to political discussions during military rule in 1996.He also mentioned his expulsion from the University of Lagos, which he attributed to his involvement in protests.Sowore maintained that these events demonstrate a consistent attempt by those in power to suppress his voice and activism.

Overall, he framed his experiences as part of a broader conflict between himself and Nigeria’s ruling elite, whom he accused of resisting accountability and democratic freedoms.