African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has responded to a recent article by THISDAY Editorial Board member Paul C. Nwabuikwu, who questioned the seriousness of Sowore’s presidential ambitions and criticised some of his political positions.
Nwabuikwu, in an article titled “Candidate Sowore: Revolution, Marijuana and Other Stories,” argued that although Sowore remains popular, his electoral performance suggested that voters had not regarded him as a serious presidential contender. He cited Sowore’s 14,608 votes in the 2023 presidential election and questioned the practical value of some of his campaign proposals.
In a lengthy response, Sowore rejected the characterisation, accusing Nwabuikwu of relying on personal attacks rather than engaging with the substance of his political programme.
Sowore also highlighted Nwabuikwu’s previous role as a Special Adviser to former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, arguing that his professional background should be considered when assessing his criticism.
He defended his history as a student activist, saying his activism during Nigeria’s military era was part of a broader struggle against dictatorship and should not be dismissed as “SUG theatrics.”
On the 2023 election results, Sowore argued that the number of votes he received should not be treated as a measure of the quality of his ideas, pointing to what he described as structural inequalities in Nigeria’s political system.
He further listed several policies associated with his political platform, including a proposed minimum living wage of at least ₦500,000, mass public housing, free education, police reform, an end to casualisation, expansion of electricity generation, modern mass transportation, agricultural development, industrialisation and stronger anti-corruption measures.
Sowore also defended his position on cannabis legalisation and regulation. He said his proposal was not to make marijuana the centre of Nigeria’s economy, but to regulate cannabis and explore its potential industrial, pharmaceutical and commercial uses.
He similarly explained his controversial statement that his Defence Minister would be “a drone,” saying the remark was intended to emphasise the need for greater investment in unmanned aerial systems, surveillance, intelligence gathering and modern defence technology.
The AAC candidate also defended his record as an activist and publisher, citing his confrontations with successive governments and periods of detention and prosecution.
He maintained that his criticism of other opposition politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, was consistent with his claim of ideological independence.
Sowore said his political objective was not simply to replace one political administration with another but to fundamentally alter what he described as Nigeria’s existing political and economic structure.
He concluded that he would continue campaigning ahead of the 2027 election and submit his policies to Nigerians for scrutiny, rather than seek validation from political commentators.
Nwabuikwu’s original article was published by THISDAY on September 22, 2026.
Sowore is one of the presidential candidates listed for the 2027 election, according to reports on parties that submitted presidential candidates to INEC.
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