Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has said Nigeria has not evolved into a truly democratic nation, arguing that the country still lacks the fundamental principles of democracy.

Sowore made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Prime Time on Arise Television, shortly after regaining his freedom from the Kuje Correctional Centre following the grant of ₦200 million bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja in his alleged defamation case involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, Nigeria only experienced a transition from military to civilian rule without establishing the core institutions and values of a democratic system.

“Nigeria had a transition to civil rule, but never became a democratic nation. We don’t have the basic tenets of democracy.

“Because the military left and abandoned us with a constitution we didn’t know how it was written doesn’t mean we have democratic rule,” he said.

Sowore also defended the right to free expression, insisting that any limitations on speech should be governed strictly by law rather than by those in positions of authority.

“Limitations to freedom of expression should be regulated according to the law and not by those in power.

“If the law says you can speak truth to power, nobody should have the right to prevent you from expressing yourself. They are interested only in punishing me without conviction,” he stated.