Prominent activist, publisher, and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has downplayed claims that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, is currently the leading voice of opposition in Nigeria.
Speaking during a recent appearance on "Inside Sources", a political affairs programme on Channels Television, Sowore expressed strong reservations about the perception of Obi as a formidable opposition figure, despite his impressive electoral performance in the 2023 polls.
Peter Obi, who secured over six million votes and finished third in the tightly contested presidential race, has been widely regarded in some political circles as a rallying figure for dissent against the current administration. However, Sowore strongly disagrees with this portrayal.
"I honestly don’t understand why anyone would refer to Peter Obi as part of the opposition," Sowore remarked. "He has not opposed any of the major policies of this government. He didn’t mobilize his supporters to challenge the outcome of the election he claims was rigged. There was no street-level resistance, no protest—just silence."
Sowore, who is known for his activist background and vocal stance against government policies he considers anti-people, argued that true opposition in a democratic system requires more than press statements and social media posts. According to him, it demands consistent mobilisation, public resistance, and a willingness to confront injustice head-on.
He pointed specifically to the Bola Tinubu administration’s controversial decision to remove fuel subsidies, a move that triggered widespread economic hardship. "Where was Peter Obi when fuel prices skyrocketed? Where was the mass mobilisation? Where was the outcry? Real opposition demands action, not passivity," Sowore stated.
The AAC leader emphasized that opposition leadership is not merely about past election figures or popularity, but about the courage to challenge power through tangible resistance, especially when national policies threaten the well-being of ordinary citizens.
In Sowore’s view, Peter Obi's political approach has lacked the boldness and confrontational energy needed to disrupt the status quo. “He doesn’t represent an ideological counter to the system. His politics is still within the comfort zone of establishment thinking,” he added.
While Sowore's remarks have sparked renewed debate about the state of Nigeria’s opposition politics, they also highlight a broader question: What does it truly mean to lead an opposition movement in a nation grappling with political inertia, economic hardship, and social unrest?
