Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the recently concluded opposition summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State, distancing himself from the gathering and describing it as an attempt to recycle familiar political actors.
The summit, which took place over the weekend, brought together several leading opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, among others.
Participants agreed to work towards presenting a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections and issued a joint communiqué outlining plans to strengthen opposition cooperation.
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The high-level meeting, reportedly chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, also featured discussions around electoral reforms, calls for the resignation of the electoral commission’s leadership, and broader concerns about Nigeria’s democratic process.
However, Sowore, who leads the African Action Congress (AAC), made it clear he would have no part in the initiative. In a statement shared on X, he said: “I was invited to attend the so-called ‘Opposition Summit’ in Ibadan, but I declined.”
He questioned the credibility of the coalition, arguing that many of its key figures had previously held power without delivering meaningful change. According to him, “there is no need to pretend that the same men… who held Nigeria to ransom for years… can suddenly reinvent themselves as champions of progress.” He added that “not all Nigerians are suffering from amnesia.”
Reaffirming his party’s position, Sowore stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, our revolutionary party… will not be part of any charade designed to recycle failed political actors under the guise of ‘opposition.’”
Instead, he insisted that the AAC would pursue what he described as a genuine alternative, saying: “We are committed to presenting a formidable, people-driven alternative, one rooted in integrity, accountability, and genuine transformation.”
The activist also took aim at both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and major opposition parties, accusing them of representing what he called a cycle of “decadence and deception.”
Despite the criticism, organisers of the Ibadan summit have framed the meeting as a major step toward building a united opposition capable of challenging the ruling party in 2027.
Sowore, however, remains unconvinced, concluding in his statement that “Nigeria does not need a rearrangement of the same broken pieces it needs a complete break from the past.”
His remarks have added another layer to the ongoing debate over the future of opposition politics in Nigeria, especially as early alignments begin to shape the road to the next general elections.