Sowore Explains Why AAC Wants to Hold 2027 Campaign Council Inauguration at Aso Rock

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has defended his party’s request to hold the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, arguing that opposition parties should enjoy equal access to public facilities used for political activities.

Sowore explained the rationale for the request while speaking at an event organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

According to him, the party’s application was prompted by its belief that the Presidential Villa should not be treated as a facility available exclusively to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for political engagements.

He maintained that if the governing party had used the venue for political events, other parties should also be considered for similar access.

The AAC candidate’s comments followed a formal request by the party to President Bola Tinubu for permission to inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council at the Villa ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s letter, dated October 21, 2026, proposed November 11, 2026, for the inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Villa, commonly known as Aso Rock, in Abuja.

In the request, the AAC cited multiparty democracy, political inclusiveness and equal treatment of political parties as the principles underpinning its application.

The party also requested food, drinks and other logistical support for an estimated 5,000 participants expected to attend the proposed event from within Nigeria and abroad.

The AAC argued that considering its request would demonstrate the Presidency’s commitment to fairness and the non-partisan use of public institutions.

However, the request remains an application for presidential approval; no confirmation that the Presidency has granted it was established in the reports reviewed for this article.

The request has triggered a political disagreement involving Sowore and the APC’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.

Basiru criticised the AAC candidate and questioned his political standing following the proposal. Sowore, in turn, defended the request as an issue of equal treatment rather than an attempt to claim special privileges.

The disagreement raises a broader question about the use of state facilities for party political activities and the standards that should apply when political parties seek access to public resources.

The AAC’s position is that public institutions should serve Nigerians without partisan discrimination. Whether the proposed event can take place at the Presidential Villa will depend on the decision of the relevant authorities and any applicable conditions.

During the same engagement, Sowore also dismissed the prospect of joining a proposed opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

He predicted that the alliance would not endure beyond the election year, signalling his reluctance to align the AAC with the proposed arrangement.

The remarks come as political actors consider strategies and alliances ahead of the next general elections. The extent to which opposition parties can cooperate, and whether such cooperation will translate into a lasting political arrangement, remain open questions.

Sowore also spoke about the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, saying that conditions had become hard for citizens.

The immediate issue is whether President Tinubu or the relevant authorities will approve the AAC’s request to use the Presidential Villa and provide the additional support sought for the proposed inauguration.

The decision could draw further attention to how public facilities are made available for political events and whether consistent rules are applied across party lines.

For now, the AAC has stated its case, while the approval of the proposed venue and logistical arrangements remains unconfirmed.

247NewsCheck.com will report any verified response from the Presidency or further developments concerning the request.