The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has dismissed opposition presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore’s request to launch his campaign at the Presidential Villa, saying rejected ballot papers received more votes than Sowore’s party in the 2023 election.
Basiru made the comments on national television while responding to Sowore’s request to use the Presidential Villa in Abuja for the launch of his campaign council, calling him a “skit maker” and saying he is not a serious contender.
“Sowore is a skit maker,” Basiru said.
“Let him struggle to even get a seat in the House of Assembly as a politician, and then people will begin to take him seriously,” he added.
Basiru said Sowore, the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), should first prove his political strength by winning a state legislative seat before seeking national office.
He also said rejected ballot papers received more votes than Sowore’s party in the 2023 election, arguing that this showed the party had limited public support.
Basiru said he and Sowore were once friends and fellow student activists, but insisted that the presidential hopeful was not serious about the 2027 race.
“If I see him, I will tell him, ‘You are just a comedian,’” Basiru said.
Sowore has since pushed back, accusing Basiru of abandoning the democratic ideals they once shared during Nigeria’s struggle against military rule.
