African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru for describing him as a “skit maker” and “comedian”. Sowore said the remarks ignored their shared history in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement.
In a statement posted on X, Sowore recalled how both men opposed military dictatorship in the 1990s. He accused Basiru of abandoning the democratic ideals they once defended because of the privileges of political office.
The exchange followed Basiru’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday. During the programme, the senator described Sowore as a skit maker.
The disagreement adds to political exchanges ahead of the 2027 general elections. Readers can also follow Sowore’s pledge on minimum wage and electricity if elected and the report on Peter Obi’s visit to Jos and Mangu.
Sowore Recalls His History With Ajibola Basiru
In his response, Sowore shared a photograph of himself with Basiru taken in 1998. At the time, he led the Congress of Progressive Youths (COPY), a pro-democracy group.
Sowore said he received Basiru at the University of Lagos after the latter’s expulsion from the University of Ilorin in 1992. He linked the expulsion to Basiru’s involvement in student activism.
He also named other activists, including Kunle Adegoke, popularly known as K-Rad, who helped Basiru secure an opportunity to return to university and study law.
“Both eventually graduated with flying colours and went on to accomplish great things,” Sowore said.
He described their shared history as one reason Basiru’s comments disappointed him. Sowore argued that their past involvement in the democratic struggle should command respect rather than ridicule.
For more political coverage, see the report on APC’s victory in Enugu’s local government election and the peace accord signed by political parties ahead of the Enugu polls.
‘Democracy Is Not Comedy,’ Sowore Says
Sowore rejected the description of his activism as entertainment. He insisted that the struggle against military rule centred on justice, freedom, democracy and human dignity.
“The struggle for justice, democracy, freedom and the preservation of human dignity is neither skit-making nor comedy,” he said.
He accused Basiru of turning away from the values they once defended together. Sowore suggested that the senator’s current political position had influenced his view of their shared history.
His response framed the dispute as more than a disagreement over political commentary. He presented it as a question of consistency between past activism and present political choices.
The exchange comes amid wider debates over political accountability and democratic participation in Nigeria. Related stories include the report on Mbah’s call for the media and government to meet at the point of truth and the report on the FCC commissioner’s comments about access to federal jobs.
Sowore Challenges Basiru’s Comments on the 2023 Election
Sowore also faulted Basiru’s argument that opposition candidates should feel ashamed of losing to President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
He described that position as deeply flawed and maintained that electoral defeat should not invalidate political opposition. Sowore also argued that political appointments do not last forever.
“Political appointments are temporary. Tinubu’s regime will come and go, just like the military regimes we confronted in our youth,” he said.
The AAC candidate drew a comparison between the current administration and previous military regimes. He predicted that Tinubu’s government would eventually leave office, just as earlier administrations had ended.
His comments underscored his opposition to the APC-led government and its political leadership. However, the statement presented Sowore’s assessment and prediction rather than an established outcome of the 2027 election.
Readers can also explore the report on Enugu’s security agencies and preparations for local government elections and the report on political stakeholders backing APC candidates in Nkanu East.
Sowore Accuses APC Chieftain of Abandoning Former Ideals
Sowore concluded his response by accusing Basiru of abandoning the principles they once defended during their youth activism. He argued that people who previously resisted oppression should not later defend similar practices.
“What is truly comical is watching yesterday’s beneficiaries of resistance become today’s defenders of the very oppression they once fought against,” he wrote.
The statement reinforced Sowore’s criticism of Basiru’s remarks and his wider opposition to the ruling party. Basiru’s description of Sowore as a skit maker had triggered the response, in which Sowore relied on their shared political history to challenge the senator’s position.
The exchange highlights the continuing friction between opposition figures and the APC as political activities build towards 2027. It also shows how past pro-democracy activism remains part of the political arguments surrounding Nigeria’s current leadership.
For additional national political coverage, read the report on suspected thugs preventing Peter Obi’s convoy from passing in Benue and the report on FIFA and CAF delaying a decision on the NFF crisis.
