“There Is No Lesser Evil in My Book” – Sowore on Refusing Coalition with Peter Obi

Former presidential candidate and leader of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has openly expressed his reasons for refusing to join forces with Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party. Sowore, who has been a recurring figure in Nigerian presidential races, explained that his principles prevent him from forming alliances with political figures he perceives as part of the country’s existing political issues.

During an appearance on the Honest Bunch Podcast, Sowore emphasized that his journey into presidential politics predates Obi’s rise to national attention, remarking, “Before you discovered Peter Obi, I was already running for President.” He attributed Obi’s recent popularity to what he described as “packaging,” implying that Obi’s image has been carefully curated to appeal to voters. “Anyone can do it,” he added, dismissing the idea that Obi offers real change.

Sowore further underscored his aversion to collaborating with politicians who, in his view, have failed to deliver on their mandates or who have previously held office without making substantial progress. “If I join [form a coalition with] Peter Obi, I will be going against what I have always stood for,” Sowore said, explaining that his core values prevent him from endorsing any leader who has held prior political office and, in his view, has underperformed.

Highlighting Obi’s history as the former running mate to Atiku Abubakar in 2019, Sowore noted, “The Peter Obi you are talking about was Vice Presidential candidate to Atiku when I was a presidential candidate.” His pointed stance reflects a broader disillusionment with what he describes as the “lesser evil” approach in Nigerian politics, reiterating his belief that only candidates with a track record of high performance should be considered.

For Sowore, the path forward does not involve alliances with politicians he sees as representative of Nigeria’s longstanding issues. “There is no lesser evil in my book,” he concluded. “If you are evil, you are evil. If you are good, you are good.”