The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has rejected the Department of State Services (DSS) proposal to suspend his cyberbullying trial until after the 2027 general elections.
Sowore instead demanded that the DSS withdraw the charges, terminate the case and issue a public apology.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Sowore said the DSS decision to pause the proceedings showed that the agency had realised the case was unlikely to succeed.
He accused security agencies of attempting to interfere with the judiciary and argued that the DSS had no legal authority to simply suspend a trial it had initiated.
“We are not seeking an adjournment. We want you to apologize for doing this to us.”
Sowore said the only acceptable option was for the DSS to withdraw the charges and compensate individuals he claimed had been wrongly prosecuted.
He further alleged that the case represented an abuse of state power aimed at criminalising freedom of expression.
The AAC candidate also claimed that a foreign tracking device was recently discovered on his vehicle, alleging that it had been planted by the DSS to monitor his movements.
Sowore Defends Fuel Subsidy Return
Sowore also criticised the Federal Government’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had worsened hardship, hunger and inflation for ordinary Nigerians.
According to him, the fundamental problem with the subsidy was not the policy itself but the alleged corruption surrounding its implementation.
“Take the hands of the thieves away and let the people who deserve subsidy enjoy it.”
He argued that government policies should prioritise the welfare of ordinary Nigerians and accused the current system of concentrating wealth in the hands of a small group of people.
Sowore particularly criticised state governors, linking the rising cost of living to what he described as excessive government revenues and corruption.
He said returning the subsidy would be part of his administration’s plan if elected president in 2027.
Promises to Fix Refineries, Expand Green Energy
Sowore said his administration would focus on rehabilitating government-owned refineries, recovering stolen public funds and gradually transitioning Nigeria towards cleaner energy sources.
He mentioned solar power and CNG-powered trains among the alternatives his government would pursue.
The AAC candidate also defended his campaign promise to introduce a ₦500,000 minimum wage, arguing that putting more money directly into the hands of ordinary citizens would help expand economic activity from the grassroots.
He said increasing the purchasing power of citizens would create a broader distribution of wealth rather than concentrating resources among a few beneficiaries.
Sowore Outlines 2027 Election Strategy
On preparations for the 2027 elections, Sowore dismissed concerns about the cost of deploying polling agents across Nigeria’s approximately 176,000 polling units.
He said the AAC was developing a mobile application that would allow ordinary citizens to volunteer as election agents and upload polling results directly on election day.
According to Sowore, the strategy would reduce the financial burden of deploying party agents while helping the party monitor results and tackle what he described as vote-buying and other electoral irregularities.
He maintained that technology and citizen participation would play a major role in the party’s strategy for the 2027 presidential election.
