Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has strongly criticised ongoing opposition coalition efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the moves lack ideological direction and could inadvertently aid the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sowore, speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, described the current alliance-building among opposition figures as “visionless” and “hollow,” lacking the conviction and ideological foundation needed to present a credible alternative to Nigerians.

“It is what they [the coalition] are doing that will make it easy for him [Tinubu] to rerun and return to office,” Sowore stated.
“They are preventing the real, organic coalition of the oppressed from emerging. People are getting distracted Nigerians actually think these guys are fighting for them.”

He further described the political realignment as disjointed and self-serving.

“Now they say they want to register a party that’s loneliness. Any coalition without ideology is a lonely coalition. There’s no coalition without conviction, character, or integrity,” he said.

The comments come amid intensified merger talks spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently held consultations with Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, now affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

However, signs of internal friction have emerged. The PDP Governors’ Forum has distanced itself from the merger dialogue, expressing concerns about its potential to destabilise the party. Meanwhile, Peter Obi has reiterated that he will not support any coalition that does not address the nation’s fundamental governance issues.

Responding to these developments, Sowore called on Nigerians to shift focus away from elite-driven political arrangements and work towards grassroots-driven change.

“The people need to understand that the only way out is the one they design for themselves,” he said.
“If you keep letting them do what they are doing with you and you get distracted by all these conversations about coalitions you are going to find yourself in a worse situation than now.”

Sowore also challenged the legitimacy of Nigeria’s current political structure, asserting that the country has yet to attain true democratic governance.

“We don’t have democracy in Nigeria. What we have is a transition to civil rule. What we’re looking for now is real democracy.”

Reaffirming his stance as a champion of grassroots activism, Sowore distanced himself from mainstream political actors, stating:

“I’m the leader of the coalition of the oppressed not the coalition of the hungry, led by Amaechi and the others.”

When asked whether the current administration offers hope amid widespread economic hardship, Sowore was direct in his response:

“No, I don’t think so and I have warned Nigerians. The more you hope, the more you lose, regarding this government.
There is nothing to look forward to. Everything that’s going to happen to you in the next two years has already happened in the last two years.”

He concluded by warning that unless a new, people-centered approach is adopted, the nation risks deeper suffering and political stagnation.