Sowore Challenges Nigeria’s Political Elite Over Godfathers and ‘Rented’ Parties Ahead of 2027
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has launched a fresh criticism of Nigerian politicians who, according to him, depend on wealthy political patrons, influential godfathers and established political structures instead of building movements of their own.
Sowore made the remarks as political activity continues to intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with politicians and political groups increasingly positioning themselves for the next presidential contest.
The former presidential candidate questioned the political strength of individuals who frequently move from one party or political platform to another while claiming to have strong support among Nigerians.
According to Sowore, politicians who genuinely believe in their ideas should be capable of building their own political structures, mobilising supporters and creating movements that can survive without depending on wealthy sponsors or established political machines.
His comments have placed the long-running issue of political godfatherism, party switching and elite influence at the centre of another debate over the future of Nigerian politics.
Sowore Questions Politicians Who Rely on Existing Structures
Sowore's criticism was directed at politicians who seek political relevance through structures they did not establish themselves.
He questioned why individuals who claim to have widespread public support would prefer to join already-established political platforms rather than create and develop their own movements.
In his view, the ability to organise supporters should be one of the clearest demonstrations of political strength.
He argued that politicians with compelling ideas should be able to attract citizens through their policies and political vision rather than relying on powerful individuals to provide financial backing or political structures.
Sowore said political strength should ultimately be demonstrated through organisation, mobilisation and grassroots engagement.
He challenged politicians who believe they have enough support to prove it independently.
“If their ideas are so compelling, let them organize. If their platforms are so popular, let them mobilize. If their politics is so powerful, let them build,” he said.
‘We Built Ours With Our Sweat and Blood’
While criticising political movements built around wealthy sponsors and influential figures, Sowore used his own party as an example.
He argued that the AAC was developed through the contributions, sacrifices and commitment of its members and supporters rather than being constructed around the interests of wealthy political figures.
According to him, the party's structure represents an alternative to what he described as politics dependent on powerful patrons.
Sowore insisted that political organisations should be built through sustained participation rather than rented or borrowed whenever elections approach.
He added:
“We built ours with our sweat and blood. Let them build theirs.”
The statement was presented as a direct challenge to politicians who, in his view, have become accustomed to entering established political structures when they want to contest elections.
The ‘Rented Party’ Argument
The concept of political parties being “rented” has become central to Sowore's latest criticism.
His argument is that some politicians do not necessarily build political institutions over a long period.
Instead, they allegedly seek out existing structures when an election approaches and attempt to use those structures to advance their personal ambitions.
Such an arrangement, according to Sowore's argument, can produce political organisations that are heavily dependent on individual personalities rather than grassroots membership.
He believes that politicians who genuinely have popular support should demonstrate that support by building durable organisations.
For him, political credibility should not simply be measured by access to money, influential allies or an existing party structure.
It should also be measured by whether a politician can organise ordinary citizens around a coherent political programme.
Political Godfatherism Remains a Major Issue
Sowore's comments have also revived discussion about godfatherism in Nigerian politics.
Political godfathers have historically played significant roles in Nigerian elections, particularly by providing financial resources, organisational networks and access to political structures.
In some cases, influential political figures have helped determine who receives party tickets or who emerges as a candidate.
They can also influence party structures and electoral mobilisation.
Critics of the system argue that excessive dependence on political godfathers can weaken democratic institutions because political power becomes concentrated around a small number of influential individuals.
Supporters and beneficiaries of such political networks, however, have often argued that experienced political leaders can provide valuable organisational structures and resources during elections.
Sowore's position is clearly critical of the practice.
He believes politicians should be able to demonstrate independent political strength instead of relying heavily on powerful patrons.
Why the Issue Is Becoming More Important Ahead of 2027
The 2027 election is already generating political realignments across Nigeria.
As the election approaches, politicians are considering alliances, examining different platforms and positioning themselves for possible presidential and legislative contests.
Party movements are therefore becoming increasingly important.
Some politicians may seek to remain within their current parties, while others may decide to join new political platforms or support broader coalitions.
Sowore's criticism comes against this background.
His argument is that politicians should not simply move into whatever structure appears most useful for an upcoming election.
Instead, they should demonstrate the ability to build sustainable political organisations.
Sowore Wants Grassroots Politics
Grassroots mobilisation has been one of the recurring themes in Sowore's political activities.
His approach has generally focused on creating a political movement that relies on ordinary citizens rather than traditional political elites.
The AAC presidential candidate argues that political parties should have strong relationships with their members and supporters.
From his perspective, a political movement should not become active only when an election is approaching.
Instead, it should maintain an organisational presence between elections and continue engaging with communities.
This model, he argues, can create a more sustainable political structure.
He Challenges Politicians to Build Their Own Platforms
One of the strongest points in Sowore's latest intervention is his challenge to politicians to create political structures of their own.
His position is straightforward: if a politician believes Nigerians strongly support their ideas, then that politician should demonstrate the support through organisation.
Rather than entering an established party and immediately attempting to take control of its structure, politicians should be prepared to build their own movements from the ground up.
That process could involve recruiting members, developing local structures, raising funds, establishing offices, organising volunteers and maintaining engagement with voters.
Such work can take years.
But Sowore believes that the difficulty of building a political movement is precisely what demonstrates whether an individual has genuine grassroots support.
Party Switching Comes Under Scrutiny
Another issue raised by Sowore is the movement of politicians between political parties.
Party switching is not unusual in Nigerian politics.
Politicians sometimes leave one party for another because of disagreements over internal party affairs, candidate selection, political strategy, leadership disputes or electoral calculations.
In some cases, politicians may move to a party they believe provides better opportunities for their political ambitions.
Sowore, however, appears to view repeated movement between parties differently.
He questioned why politicians who claim to command strong public support cannot simply create their own organisations.
His argument suggests that frequent movement from one established party to another can sometimes reflect dependence on existing political machinery rather than genuine grassroots strength.
What Sowore Says About Supporters
Sowore also criticised attempts by politicians to persuade supporters of existing political movements to abandon those platforms and follow new political alliances.
He argued that supporters who helped build political structures should not automatically be expected to leave them because an influential politician has decided to pursue a different political arrangement.
This reflects a broader disagreement over the ownership and identity of political movements.
Political parties are formally organisations, but their strength often depends heavily on the commitment of their members.
Sowore's argument is that politicians should not assume that supporters will simply follow them whenever they move from one platform to another.
The AAC as Sowore’s Example
Sowore presented the AAC as an example of a political organisation built through sustained effort.
He argued that members and supporters contributed to the development of the party rather than allowing it to become a vehicle controlled by a wealthy individual.
This distinction is central to his criticism of what he describes as “rented” political platforms.
According to Sowore, a political party should have its own identity, membership base and organisational structure.
It should not merely serve as a temporary vehicle for an individual seeking political office.
Money and Political Power
Nigeria's electoral politics is heavily influenced by the role of money.
Campaigns require significant resources for organisation, communication, transportation, mobilisation, advertising, logistics and other activities.
Political candidates therefore frequently depend on networks of supporters and financiers.
Sowore's criticism focuses on what happens when financial influence becomes the foundation of political organisation.
His argument is that wealth should not substitute for genuine grassroots support.
A politician may have access to substantial financial resources, but Sowore believes that should not automatically translate into political legitimacy.
Instead, he wants candidates to demonstrate that ordinary Nigerians are willing to organise around their ideas.
Building a Political Movement Takes Time
Sowore's challenge also highlights one of the most difficult realities of Nigerian politics.
Building a political movement from scratch is significantly harder than joining an established organisation.
An established party may already have elected officials, local branches, supporters, offices, campaign infrastructure and access to political networks.
A new movement has to develop all of those structures itself.
It must also convince voters that it can compete successfully against better-funded and more established opponents.
Sowore believes the sacrifice involved in building such a structure is part of what gives it authenticity.
The 2027 Election Could Produce More Realignments
With the 2027 general elections approaching, further political realignments are expected.
Politicians may continue moving between parties, negotiating alliances and establishing new political platforms.
Coalitions may also emerge as opposition groups attempt to challenge established political forces.
Such developments could create more opportunities for smaller parties and new movements, but they could also make the political environment increasingly competitive.
Sowore's latest comments indicate that he intends to defend the independence of his own political platform while challenging politicians who rely on structures created by others.
Sowore’s Political Position
Sowore has contested presidential elections before and has consistently presented himself as an alternative to Nigeria's traditional political establishment.
His political message has frequently centred on reform, accountability, grassroots participation and challenging entrenched political interests.
His latest criticism fits into that broader political identity.
Rather than presenting the AAC simply as another electoral vehicle, he described it as a structure built through the contributions and sacrifices of its supporters.
That distinction is important to his argument.
He wants voters to view political organisations as movements with their own identities rather than temporary platforms assembled around individual politicians.
The Wider Debate Over Nigerian Democracy
Sowore's comments touch on a larger question about the development of democracy in Nigeria.
For democracy to function effectively, political parties need strong internal institutions, active membership and clear programmes.
When political organisations become overly dependent on individual personalities, critics argue that internal democracy can suffer.
Candidate selection can become influenced by powerful individuals, while ordinary members may have less influence over important decisions.
A stronger grassroots system could potentially give members greater participation in determining the direction of political parties.
This is the type of political culture Sowore appears to be advocating.
Supporters and Critics May Interpret His Position Differently
Sowore's argument is likely to receive different interpretations from Nigerians.
Supporters may see his position as a challenge to a political system in which wealthy individuals and established networks have traditionally exercised considerable influence.
They may welcome his call for politicians to build movements based on ordinary citizens.
Critics, however, could argue that building a successful political party requires substantial resources and that established political structures exist precisely because political organisation requires years of investment.
There may also be disagreement over whether joining an existing party should necessarily be regarded as a sign of political weakness.
Political alliances and mergers are common features of democratic politics around the world.
The central disagreement is therefore not simply about whether politicians should join existing parties, but about the degree to which those parties genuinely represent members and voters rather than individual political interests.
Sowore’s Message to Aspiring Politicians
At the heart of Sowore's intervention is a simple challenge to politicians seeking office in 2027.
If they believe Nigerians support them, he wants them to prove it through organisation.
If they believe their ideas are popular, he wants them to mobilise citizens around those ideas.
And if they believe they possess the political strength to win elections, he wants them to demonstrate that strength by building a political structure capable of standing on its own.
For Sowore, political credibility should come from the ability to build and sustain a movement rather than from access to influential individuals.
The Road to 2027
Nigeria's political landscape is likely to become increasingly active as the 2027 elections draw closer.
Political parties will face internal contests, politicians will explore alliances and candidates will seek to establish campaign structures across the country.
The competition will not be limited to the presidency.
Governorships, National Assembly seats and state legislative positions will also generate significant political activity.
Against this background, questions about party structures, campaign financing, grassroots mobilisation and political alliances are likely to remain prominent.
Sowore's latest comments place him firmly in that debate.
A Challenge to the Traditional Political Model
Ultimately, Sowore's criticism is a challenge to a political model in which powerful individuals can play a major role in determining electoral outcomes.
His call is for politicians to build from the bottom up rather than depending on structures created by wealthy patrons or established political figures.
Whether that approach can produce a major breakthrough in the 2027 elections remains to be seen.
However, his argument reflects a longstanding demand among sections of the Nigerian electorate for political parties that are stronger institutionally and less dependent on individual personalities.
For now, Sowore is making it clear that he intends to take that argument into the 2027 political contest.
His message to politicians who claim to have popular support is direct: build the organisation, mobilise the people and demonstrate the strength independently.
As political realignments continue, the debate over godfatherism, party switching and grassroots democracy is likely to become an increasingly important part of Nigeria's journey toward the 2027 general elections.