Prominent human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has launched a scathing critique of Nigeria’s National Assembly, accusing lawmakers of serving personal and political interests instead of holding the executive accountable.
Speaking during a recent appearance on ChannelsTV’s Rubbin’ Minds, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate said the legislature has failed in its constitutional role of oversight, claiming:
“The National Assembly doesn’t do checks; they only balance their interests.”
Sowore described the Assembly as a “favourite ground” for elite politicians, noting that the lack of true opposition has turned the legislature into an extension of the executive.
“The National Assembly doesn’t represent any kind of opposition to the government. Nigerians would support anything terrible if there’s something to benefit from it,” he said.
He also condemned Nigeria’s multi-party system, labeling many opposition parties as “feeder parties” or “special purpose vehicles (SPVs)” designed by major political actors to create the illusion of competition.
“There’s no opposition party except us [AAC] in INEC meetings. Most of the others are always in alliance with the government or created to fragment dissent.”
Turning his focus to the Labour Party, Sowore dismissed it as a “short rental” political vehicle used by defectors from the PDP and APC:
“They walked in there, grabbed what they could, and went back to where they came from.”
He went further to criticise the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for what he called sycophantic behaviour during inter-party engagements:
“The PDP is even worse. In meetings, it’s always ‘yes sir, yes sir.’ There’s no ideological difference between them and the ruling party.”
Positioning the AAC as a principled but underfunded movement, Sowore said; “We’re small, compact. We don’t have money or connections to do the wrong things. But we’re committed.”
He also spoke about the personal price of activism, recounting his continued persecution, including recent arrests and physical assault:
“I still went to prison a few weeks ago. My passport is still with the Nigerian state. I was beaten in Akure just four days ago on June 12.”
On the possibility of receiving a national honour, Sowore was unequivocal:
“If they offered me a national honour, I would reject it and sue them. I can’t accept anything from a government that robs Nigerians of their dignity and mandates.”
Sowore concluded with a rallying call to Nigerians to stop waiting for political saviours and instead reclaim their collective future:
“As Wole Soyinka once said, many Nigerians find freedom in enslavement. That must change.”
