Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, has stirred reactions after declaring that a drone would serve as his minister of defence if elected Nigeria’s president in 2027, arguing that technology and artificial intelligence are key to defeating terrorism and tackling insecurity across the country.
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has said he would deploy artificial intelligence and drone technology to combat terrorism and insecurity if elected president in 2027.
Sowore made the statement during a live interview on Arise Television on Thursday, where he outlined his vision for a technology-driven security architecture in Nigeria.
According to the activist, the country’s worsening insecurity can only be effectively tackled through advanced technology, modern equipment, and competent military leadership.
“If I become Nigeria’s president tomorrow, my minister of defence will be a drone. That’s how much I believe in technology,” Sowore said.
The AAC flagbearer criticised what he described as poor military leadership, accusing some top officers of remaining in Abuja instead of leading operations against insurgents and bandits.
“We have to have honest leaders and supervisors and officers who are not staying in Abuja fighting over land but actually fighting wars, generals who can actually strategise and do what is right,” he stated.
Sowore also called for reforms in the Nigeria Police Force, insisting that officers should focus on internal security rather than what he described as political intimidation and social media-related arrests.
“A police force that can carry out internal security of the country, not escorting people or arresting people for insulting others on Facebook,” he said.
Speaking further, Sowore described a proposed command-and-control security system powered by drones and artificial intelligence that would track and neutralise terrorists.
“I’m just going to have a control centre where people sit down and track terrorists and liquidate them,” he said.
When asked by the interviewer whether artificial intelligence could also serve as his minister of defence, Sowore agreed, saying AI would play a central role in his security strategy.
“That’s part of it. And that drone will fly everywhere,” he added.
Despite his emphasis on technology, Sowore stressed that insecurity could not be solved through military force alone. He argued that poverty, unemployment, and lack of education continue to push many young Nigerians into violent activities.
“Ultimately, you must create a society where people can find jobs and go to school, and not be willing to take up arms,” he said.
Sowore had earlier made a similar remark during an interview on Channels Television in January 2026, where he first suggested that a drone could function as his minister of defence.
