Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
ABUJA, Nigeria – Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of orchestrating politically motivated prosecutions aimed at securing his conviction and disqualifying him from contesting the 2027 presidential election. Sowore made the allegation on Friday, June 5, 2026, while addressing journalists in Abuja shortly before appearing in court in two separate cases.
According to Sowore, the Federal Government, prosecutors, and the trial judge in one of his cases have allegedly made up their minds to secure a conviction against him, which he believes would be used to bar him from future elections. "They want to convict me at all costs so that I will be disqualified from contesting election because if you have a criminal record or have been convicted, that is what this is all about," Sowore told journalists. He further alleged that the proceedings before Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja had demonstrated bias, citing what he described as the judge's conduct in court, including an incident in which his lawyer was asked to kneel before the court. "We have made it clear to the judge the moment we saw it through his actions in court, including asking our counsel to kneel down before him. There is no way you can get justice in this kind of court," he said.
Sowore, who was the AAC's presidential candidate in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, maintained that he had lost confidence in the court handling the matter, arguing that judicial officers should recuse themselves whenever a defendant openly expresses doubts about receiving a fair hearing. "Even in a Magistrate Court or any level of jurisprudence, if an accused person comes up and says, 'I have no faith in you,' any further action, the judge ought to recuse himself or herself from that matter," Sowore stated.
Earlier on Friday, before his court appearances, Sowore took to social media to denounce what he described as "politically motivated prosecutions." In a post published on his platforms, he disclosed that he was scheduled to appear before two different courts on the same day. According to him, one of the cases is before a Magistrate Court in Kuje, Abuja, where he and 13 others are facing charges linked to a protest demanding the release of detained separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The second matter is before Justice M.G. Umar, whom Sowore accused of being determined to convict him over remarks he made describing President Tinubu as a criminal. "I have the singular honour of appearing in two courts in one day," Sowore wrote. "This morning, I am standing trial at the Kuje Magistrate Court with 13 others for demanding that the illegitimate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. At the same time today, I will appear before Justice M.G. Umar, who is determined to convict me for calling his lord and master, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a criminal."
Sowore insisted that regardless of the legal actions against him, he would continue his activism and political engagements. "Regardless of these politically motivated prosecutions, the struggle for liberation cannot be stopped. No amount of intimidation, harassment, or judicial persecution can silence the demand for justice and freedom," he said.
The cyberstalking trial stems from a post Sowore made on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on August 25, 2025, in which he referred to President Tinubu as a "criminal" following the president's comments on corruption during a visit to Brazil. The Department of State Services (DSS) subsequently filed a two-count charge of cyberstalking against him under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Amendment) Act, 2024. On May 8, 2026, Justice Umar dismissed Sowore's no-case submission, holding that the DSS had successfully established a prima facie case against him and ordered him to enter his defence. Shortly after that ruling, Sowore openly accused the judge of bias and asked him to recuse himself. Justice Umar ordered Sowore to file a formal recusal application, which is still pending.
On June 4, 2026, the same court declined Sowore's application to adjourn his trial until after the court's upcoming vacation. Justice Umar rejected the request and ordered that further hearings be conducted day-to-day beginning June 5. The judge also directed Sowore to commence his defence immediately.
Reacting to Sowore's allegations, the Presidency has dismissed the claims as baseless. On May 29, 2026, President Tinubu's Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, accused Sowore, along with opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, of attacking the president's life, politics, and policies because they want to take power from him in 2027. Bwala specifically questioned Sowore's democratic credentials, alleging that the activist had manipulated the AAC's leadership structure to secure a presidential ticket by adoption. "Sowore who opens a political party and appoints himself as the national chairman in order to secure a presidential ticket by way of adoption," Bwala wrote on X. "Then when elections time approaches, he hands the chairmanship, after losing election he collects back the chairmanship till the next election. Is he a democrat?"
Despite the legal battles, Sowore has been actively campaigning for the 2027 presidency. On May 23, 2026, he formally declared his intention to contest, promising a "revolutionary change" to tackle insecurity and hardship. On May 26, the AAC adopted him as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. He has since unveiled policy proposals, including building one million public homes across Nigeria and deploying drones as his "Minister of Defence" to combat insecurity.
Amnesty International has previously raised concerns over Sowore's treatment by Nigerian authorities. In August 2025, the global rights body called for the immediate dropping of all charges against him, describing the investigation as part of "a wider attempt to crack down on civic space and peaceful dissent in Nigeria." Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned what he called the politically motivated arrest and assault of Sowore by police in August 2025, describing the activist's only offence as "speaking out against injustice, nepotism, and misrule."
As Sowore's trial continues, the outcome could have significant implications for his 2027 presidential ambition. Under Nigerian law, a conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude can disqualify a candidate from elective office. Sowore has framed the prosecution as a deliberate strategy by the Tinubu administration to eliminate a vocal opponent. "Regardless of these politically motivated prosecutions, the struggle for liberation cannot be stopped," he said. The Federal Government has consistently denied any political motivation, maintaining that the case is about upholding the law against cyberstalking.
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