Human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner Omoyele Sowore says he intends to challenge Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, promising to tackle the country’s electricity crisis and insecurity if elected.
Sowore, founder of Sahara Reporters and a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, said his ambition to lead Nigeria remains unchanged. He said he continues to engage in socio-political advocacy year-round, unlike many politicians who appear only during election cycles.
Speaking with The Guardian in Abuja over the weekend, Sowore said fixing Nigeria’s power sector would be a central priority of his administration, describing reliable electricity as essential to economic development.
“The whole idea of energy is what will bring about an industrial revolution in this country,” Sowore said. “If we get power right, we can tackle unemployment, boost GDP and address insecurity.”
He also criticized the federal government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, arguing that the current administration has yet to deliver significant improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions.
Sowore said Nigeria needs a new generation of leadership with the vision and capacity to address the country’s longstanding challenges. He said his continued political engagement reflects his commitment to providing voters with an alternative ahead of the 2027 general election.
Sowore ran for president under the African Action Congress in both the 2019 Nigerian general election and the 2023 Nigerian general election, campaigning on platforms that emphasized anti-corruption, youth empowerment and institutional accountability.
Beyond electoral politics, he has remained active in civic mobilization and advocacy for democratic reforms, using public campaigns and social media to highlight governance issues.
Observers say his activism and media platform have helped shape national conversations about transparency, accountability and citizen participation in Nigeria’s democratic process.
