Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has declared that Nigeria's democracy was hijacked by "morons" and has never truly functioned as a democratic nation, launching a blistering attack on the administration of President Bola Tinubu just days after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre on a ₦200 million bail.
Sowore made the remarks on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, during an appearance on Arise Television's Prime Time, his first major interview since regaining his freedom following his detention over charges of cybercrime and defamation of the president. He had been remanded on June 22, 2026, after a Federal High Court revoked his bail and ordered his detention pending the hearing of his motion for a stay of execution.
Addressing the state of the country's political system, Sowore did not mince words. "Nigeria had a transition to civil rule, but never became a democratic nation. We don't have the basic tenets of democracy," he said. He argued that the military's departure in 1999 left Nigerians with a constitution whose origins are unknown and which has failed to guarantee fundamental freedoms. "Because the military left and abandoned us with a constitution we didn't know how it was written doesn't mean we have democratic rule," he stated.
Sowore has previously described Nigerian democracy as "morontocracy", a term he coined to describe a system hijacked by those he considers intellectually and morally unfit to lead. During a 2025 book launch, he elaborated: "I have always referred to Nigerian democracy as 'morontocracy', a democracy that was hijacked by morons, and that is the result you can get." He blamed pro-democracy activists for allowing "charlatans" to seize power during the 1999 transition, saying: "There was a mistake we must admit to that we made when democracy came about in 1999. In all fairness, we shouldn't have allowed charlatans to hijack the democratic process; we did."
Sowore also criticised the use of the Cybercrime Act to suppress dissent, accusing the Tinubu administration of weaponising the law against political opponents. "The cybercrime law, as amended by the Tinubu regime, also made it very clear that an individual cannot use the law to oppress another person simply because the person said something you don't like," he said. He alleged that authorities have consistently used the judicial process to punish him rather than allow a fair trial.
He further stated that the charges against him—stemming from social media posts in which he referred to President Tinubu as "a criminal"—are politically motivated and designed to intimidate government critics. "Limitations to freedom of expression should be regulated according to the law and not by those in power. If the law says you can speak truth to power, nobody should have the right to prevent you from expressing yourself. They are interested only in punishing me without conviction," he said.
Sowore's detention drew widespread condemnation from civil society organisations, including SERAP, which called on the Tinubu administration to "immediately release Sowore and drop all the bogus charges against him." Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, also expressed concern, stating that Sowore's remand was "dangerous for Nigeria's democracy."
Despite his ordeal, Sowore insisted that his detention had not weakened his commitment to the struggle. In a statement released shortly after his release, he wrote: "Leaving Kuje Prison after being unjustly incarcerated by the failed traitor to the Nigerian people, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his regime. Prison has never broken the resolve of those who fight for justice. If anything, it only strengthens our determination. The struggle continues. We will never surrender."
He also revealed that during his nine days in Kuje, he was held alongside more than 1,158 inmates, including 37 prisoners undergoing treatment for tuberculosis in overcrowded cells. "Prison is not new to me, and perhaps that explains how quickly I settle into prison life. But the truth remains that no one should spend even a minute behind bars for an offence unknown to law or for exercising constitutionally protected rights," he said.
Sowore accused successive civilian governments of being "even more repressive" than the military regimes they replaced, stating that state institutions have continued to violate the rights of citizens through arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and extrajudicial actions.
The AAC presidential candidate also announced that preparations for his 2027 presidential campaign had already commenced. "The task before us is greater than any individual. The struggle for justice, freedom, and the liberation of Nigeria continues. And now, the next major assignment is before us! The Sowore Presidential Campaign 2027. The campaign must go on," he declared.
Sowore, who has run for president twice before, said he was committed to challenging systemic injustice regardless of the personal cost. "I am not dying for Nigerians; I am dying for what I believe is right by my conscience," he told ARISE NEWS. He also ruled out forming political alliances with established politicians, saying he would not compromise his principles by aligning with individuals he believes contributed to Nigeria's challenges.
As Sowore prepares for his next court appearance on July 6, 2026, when he is expected to open his defence, his message to Nigerians remains unchanged: the struggle for a just and democratic Nigeria continues, and he intends to remain at the forefront.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments