Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has clarified that his consistent involvement in protests is not a strategy to attain political power but a lifelong commitment to justice and good governance.
Speaking on News Central’s Politics HQ programme, Sowore said that public demonstrations are deeply rooted in Nigeria’s political history and have often served as catalysts for major democratic shifts, including the country’s return to civilian rule in 1999.
“Protests have brought us democracy,” he said. “Almost every former Nigerian president has, at some point, joined or supported a protest. Obasanjo protested. Buhari protested. Tinubu not only protested but even sponsored protests before becoming president.”
Responding to suggestions that his activism is politically motivated, Sowore dismissed the claim, stating that his protests long predate his presidential ambitions.
“If protesting was a route to power, I would have been president 20 years ago,” he remarked. “I began protesting at 21, long before I was even eligible to contest for office.”
The #RevolutionNow convener emphasized that his political participation stems from a desire to fundamentally reform Nigeria rather than pursue personal advancement.
“My engagement in politics is to change Nigeria’s system, not to benefit from it,” he added.
Sowore also noted the irony that many Nigerian leaders who once relied on protests to challenge injustice now suppress them when in power. Peaceful movements such as #EndSARS (2020) and #EndBadGovernance (2024) have frequently been met with arrests, intimidation, and excessive use of force.
Despite repeated detentions for his activism, Sowore maintained that peaceful protest remains a legitimate and essential instrument for holding government accountable in a democracy.
“Protesting to get to power is not my intention,” he concluded. “Protest is about demanding justice, not seeking office.”
