Nigerians made grave mistake voting him – Sowore slams Tinubu

Ahead of Democracy Day, human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, stating that Nigerians made a “grave mistake” voting him in.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Omoyele Sowore stated that Tinubu’s leadership has worsened Nigeria’s decline, exceeding even the widely criticised tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“My position on this government is not a thought, it’s a clear stance I’ve held long before the 2023 elections. Nigerians made a grave mistake voting Bola Tinubu into office,” he said.

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again: when Tinubu is done with this country, Nigerians will be begging to return to Buhari’s era. He has done irreparable damage economically, socially, politically,

“He has crippled institutions, education, and democracy. Buhari killed Nigeria in eight years; Tinubu came, in two years he is burying it.”

Sowore claimed that president Tinubu’s policies have worsened poverty, weakened institutions, and undermined democratic values.

He expressed dismay that Nigeria is at its brink of total collapse, with citizens losing trust in the electoral system and democracy itself.

“What Nigerians are whispering dangerously is that they no longer believe in democracy,” he said.

“The promises of democracy, free speech, credible elections, freedom to choose have been destroyed,

“Today, people celebrate military dictators just to express their frustration. But to be clear, I don’t support military rules. What we have now is a shambolic democracy.”

Sowore, who has contested presidential elections and led protests against poor governance, was clear and firm in his criticism against the current electoral system.

He said he would continue to resist a proposed law by the House of Representatives to make voting compulsory, describing it as an attempt to manufacture legitimacy through coercion.

“If you have to use threats to force people to vote, then democracy is dead. Democracy is about choice. You cannot force people to participate in a system they no longer believe in,” he said.

“That proposal is not about boosting participation, it’s about forced legitimacy. They’re desperate because voters turnout is low, so they want to fabricate numbers.

“Those behind these law should know I will oppose them every step of the way.”he argued

When questioned about a potential 2027 run, Sowore said he does not believe in the current electoral system, but he will continue “running” through activism, protests and advocacy,

“But if you’re asking about elections, I don’t believe in the current ballot system. The 2027 results are already written,” he said. “The only thing that can change Nigeria is rebellion against the system, against another sham election, not against democracy, anyway.”

Sowore rejected potential alliances with the PDP Atiku Abubakar and LP Peter obi candidates, believing that systemic change is needed, not just a change in leadership.

He claimed that the current opposition lacks bite due to a crisis of ideology and conviction, even as many believe the nation’s opposition movement has been subdued since the 2023 polls.

“That’s because what you call opposition isn’t opposition. Most of them are former APC or PDP members. They share the same ideology or lack of one. Real opposition means clear ideological difference. What we have are political mercenaries looking for the best-paying camp,” he said.

“Most of these defections are transactional. They’re not about values or service. If you dig deeper, you’ll realise they’re just fighting over how to share the loot, not about how to serve the people.”

Nigerians made grave mistake voting him – Sowore slams Tinubu