African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has defended his party’s request to hold the inauguration of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, arguing that opposition parties deserve the same access to the facility as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sowore spoke on Thursday at an event organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, explaining that the request followed the APC’s use of Aso Rock for political activities.
The AAC had written to President Bola Tinubu seeking approval to hold the inauguration at the Presidential Villa ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We asked to use Aso Rock because the APC uses Aso Rock to do political party events. So we are saying, as a matter of right, since Aso Rock is our own, other political parties must be granted the opportunity to use Aso Rock the way APC uses Aso Rock,” Sowore said.
Beyond requesting the venue, the party also sought food, drinks and other logistical support for participants at the proposed event scheduled for November 11, 2026.
In a letter dated October 21 and signed by AAC National Secretary Oshiokhai Ikpeminioghena, the party said its request was based on multiparty democracy, political inclusiveness and equal treatment of political parties.
The AAC argued that granting the request would demonstrate the Presidency’s commitment to fairness and affirm that public institutions should be accessible to Nigerians regardless of their political affiliations.
The proposal sparked a disagreement between Sowore and APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, who criticised the AAC candidate and questioned the party’s electoral strength.
Despite the criticism, Sowore maintained that his party’s request was about securing equal access to the Presidential Villa rather than seeking special treatment.
He also rejected the possibility of joining a proposed opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, expressing doubts about its ability to remain united beyond the polls.
“I don’t want to be part of your coalition because your rainbow coalition is going to die after 2027,” he said.
Sowore further expressed concern about the economic and social conditions facing Nigerians, saying many citizens were struggling with hardship.
“They have brought sorrow, and honestly, things are hard for the people of this country,” he said.
The dispute over the proposed venue has brought attention to questions about equal treatment of political parties and access to public facilities as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
