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The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that Nigeria's ruling class has a long-standing grudge against him, insisting that his legal troubles are politically motivated.
Sowore made the claim during an interview on Channels Television's The Morning Brief on Friday, days after regaining his freedom from the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Recall that the activist was granted bail in the sum of ₦200 million in a defamation case instituted by the Federal Government over his description of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a "criminal."
Speaking during the interview, Sowore maintained that he is not being prosecuted over the limits of free speech but is instead being punished for challenging those in power and speaking out against corruption and injustice.
"I'm not being tried for any definition or any bloodlines between free speech and criminal definition. I am being punished by people in power for standing up for my right and that of other people. It didn't start today," he said.
The AAC presidential candidate further alleged that members of Nigeria's political elite have held resentment against him for years because of his activism.
"They have a historical anger against me. It's an issue between me and the ruling class in Nigeria that have been destroying the country. They said I have stood in their way of corruption and impunity," Sowore stated.
According to him, the security agencies and political leaders are the real forces behind his repeated arrests and legal battles.
"Our security agencies and their leaders, as well as those in power, are the people fighting me. Forget about what they said is the reason they arrested me," he added.
Sowore also referenced previous incidents in his life, arguing that he has consistently faced persecution because of his activism.
He recalled the seizure of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, claiming authorities accused him of engaging in politics during the military era in 1996.
The former presidential candidate also cited his expulsion from the University of Lagos, saying it was a consequence of participating in student protests.
Sowore insisted that his experiences over the years demonstrate a pattern of victimisation by successive governments because of his unwavering stance against corruption, impunity and abuse of power.