The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has dismissed the presidential ambitions of Omoyele Sowore, describing the human rights activist's request to launch his campaign council at the Presidential Villa as a political comedy that was never going to receive approval.
Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today programme, Basiru reacted to reports that Sowore had written to the Presidency seeking permission to use the Presidential Villa for the launch. He said Sowore, whom he described as a fellow former student union activist, was fully aware that no such request would be granted.
Basiru Challenges Sowore's Political Credibility
The APC national secretary went further to challenge Sowore to demonstrate genuine political support by first contesting and winning a seat in a state House of Assembly before laying claim to a presidential ambition.
Basiru called Sowore a comedian and said his presidential bid should not be taken seriously. He argued that without a visible grassroots structure or electoral record at any level of government, Sowore's campaign lacked credibility.
APC Defends Its Northern Stronghold
The remarks came as the APC national secretary also pushed back against suggestions that the ruling party had lost its grip on northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections. He pointed to the party's control of most state governments in the region and its performance in elections held since 2023 as proof that its political base remained intact.
Basiru put the party's current membership at 12.8 million, arguing that no opposition party could match the APC's organisational reach across the country.
Economic Indicators and 2027 Confidence
On the economy, he said headline inflation dropped from 15.63 per cent in August to 14.63 per cent in September, and presented the figures as a sign that economic conditions under President Bola Tinubu were improving.
Basiru expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure a second term in office in 2027, dismissing the notion that the administration had lost public support.
