Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has reaffirmed his intention to contest Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election after Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) candidate Donald Duke questioned whether he was actually running for office.
Duke made the remarks during an interview with the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he described Sowore as a “voice of conscience” but said he was unsure whether the AAC candidate intended to pursue the presidency.
Sowore subsequently rejected the uncertainty, stating that he is firmly in the presidential race and pointing to the final list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The exchange comes as opposition politicians and political groups continue discussions over possible cooperation ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.
Duke Describes Sowore as a ‘Voice of Conscience’
Duke said he regarded Sowore positively but believed the AAC candidate occupied a different position from conventional politicians.
“Let me talk about Sowore. I like him. I’m not sure Sowore is running for office, with due respect to him, but I see him as a voice of conscience,” Duke said.
He added that Sowore often raises issues that some politicians might avoid discussing because of political civility.
Duke’s comments were made while discussing efforts to bring opposition politicians and groups together ahead of the 2027 election. He argued that opposition cooperation should be based on an agreed programme for governing Nigeria rather than simply on the objective of defeating President Bola Tinubu.
Duke also said opposition politicians needed to consider a longer-term political arrangement, including possible cooperation or merger between opposition parties.
Sowore Says He Is Running
Sowore responded to Duke by making his position explicit.
In a response posted on X, the AAC candidate thanked Duke for describing him as a “voice of conscience” but said there should be no uncertainty about his presidential ambition.
Sowore stated that he is running for president of Nigeria in 2027 and referred to INEC’s final list of presidential candidates as confirmation of his candidacy.
INEC published the final list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates on September 12, 2026. The commission listed 18 presidential candidates, including Sowore for the AAC and Duke for the PRP.
Sowore’s running mate on the INEC list is Haruna Garba Magashi.
The January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are the scheduled first major national elections of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Sowore Rejects Proposed Opposition Coalition
The disagreement between Duke and Sowore also reflects a wider difference over how opposition politicians should approach the 2027 election.
Duke has advocated greater cooperation among opposition parties. During his interview, he argued that a fragmented opposition could face difficulties under Nigeria’s presidential system.
He also said opposition groups should first agree on the kind of country they want to build before deciding which candidate should emerge from any possible alliance.
Duke said an opposition arrangement formed solely to defeat the incumbent would not be sufficient.
“If it’s coming together just for the sake of defeating the incumbent, then I think it’s a waste of time,” he said, arguing that the groups should establish a common objective for Nigeria before deciding who should represent the alliance.
Sowore has taken a different position on the coalition discussions.
The AAC candidate has said that neither he nor his party is participating in the proposed opposition coalition process and that the party intends to maintain its own political platform.
His position is that the AAC’s programme is focused on broader changes to Nigeria’s political and governance system rather than simply replacing one political administration with another.
What Sowore Says His Candidacy Represents
In his response to Duke, Sowore argued that his presidential campaign should not be viewed solely through the conventional pursuit of political office.
He said the AAC was seeking what he described as fundamental political change and identified issues including equal rights, justice, living wages, education, healthcare, security, electricity and housing as areas his political programme would address.
These are Sowore’s stated political positions and campaign objectives.
He has also criticised the proposed opposition coalition, arguing that the AAC should not join an arrangement whose primary purpose is simply to replace President Bola Tinubu with another established political figure.
The position places Sowore’s campaign outside the current efforts by some opposition actors to develop a common platform.
INEC List Confirms Sowore and Duke as Candidates
The disagreement over whether Sowore is running comes after the electoral commission formally published the names of presidential candidates for the 2027 election.
INEC’s final list contains candidates from 18 political parties. Among them are Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Donald Duke of the PRP and Omoyele Sowore of the AAC.
The list establishes who has been formally presented by the relevant political parties as presidential candidates for the election. It does not, however, determine the eventual electoral outcome.
For Sowore, the listing provides an official electoral reference for his claim that he is contesting the presidency.
Opposition Talks Continue
Duke’s comments were made against the backdrop of continuing discussions among opposition figures about whether they can establish a common political platform before the election.
The discussions have included proposals for a single opposition candidate and a shared programme covering issues such as insecurity, unemployment, poverty, electoral reform, constitutional reform, education, healthcare and energy.
However, opposition politicians have not reached a universally accepted arrangement, and some candidates have publicly indicated that they intend to retain separate political platforms.
Duke has argued that cooperation should be based on a common national objective, while Sowore has maintained that the AAC’s political programme is distinct from the proposed coalition.
The positions illustrate one of the central questions facing opposition parties ahead of 2027: whether to compete separately or attempt to establish a broader alliance.
Why the Exchange Matters
The public disagreement between Duke and Sowore highlights the different approaches being taken by opposition candidates as preparations for the 2027 election intensify.
For Duke, opposition cooperation is an important part of his political strategy, although he has also argued that any alliance should be based on an agreed programme rather than simply opposition to the incumbent.
For Sowore, maintaining the AAC’s separate platform is central to his campaign, with his stated emphasis on structural political and economic change.
Neither position determines how other opposition parties or voters will act. The political landscape remains subject to further negotiations, party decisions and campaign developments before the election.
The exchange also demonstrates how individual candidates are defining their identities ahead of the campaign period, with Sowore presenting himself as both a presidential candidate and an outspoken critic of Nigeria’s established political order.
What Happens Next
Sowore’s name remains on INEC’s final list of presidential candidates, while Duke is also formally listed as the PRP candidate.
The next phase will involve continued political mobilisation, party campaigns and further discussions among opposition groups about possible cooperation.
Whether Sowore and the AAC maintain their separate platform throughout the electoral process, and whether other opposition parties reach a broader agreement, will depend on subsequent political decisions.
For now, Sowore has publicly rejected any uncertainty about his ambition: he says he is running for president in 2027, while Duke’s comments have opened a broader discussion about the role of opposition candidates and the prospects for political cooperation.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
- Vanguard
- Channels Television
- ThisDay
- Politics Nigeria
