Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has sharply criticised Nigeria’s opposition politics, accusing Peter Obi and others of aligning with what he mockingly called the “Association of Desperate Criminals (ADC).”
Sowore made the statement during an activist meet and greet, where he spoke openly about politics, governance, and what he described as the deception of Nigerians by recycled political elites.
According to him, the ADC is not a real alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but a regrouping of politicians who were part of the same system Nigerians complained about. He said many leaders in the ADC were in power up to 2023 and have only changed party names, not their ways. “ADC is just APC in another form,” Sowore said, warning Nigerians not to be misled by new political branding.
He argued that if Nigerians support such politicians, they would only be empowering another group of desperate leaders who want power for personal gain.
Sowore also turned his criticism toward Peter Obi, dismissing the idea that Obi represents real change. He said Obi’s image as a different kind of politician was mostly political packaging and not backed by structural change.
“They don’t hate each other, they hate us,” Sowore said, claiming that Nigeria’s political elites are united against the people, regardless of party differences. He added that politicians know how to distract Nigerians and keep them divided.
Beyond party politics, Sowore spoke about his continued fight against injustice and abuse of power. He revealed that he was arrested and detained several times in the past year for challenging authorities but said intimidation would not stop his activism.
He urged Nigerians to move beyond feeling sorry about the country’s problems and instead organise and resist systems that exploit them.
