Sowore Dismisses Peter Obi and Bala Mohammed as "Artificial Opposition," Labels Major Parties a Unified "Structure of Criminality"

Omoyele Sowore claims Peter Obi and Gov. Bala Mohammed are not true opposition figures, alleging they are part of a unified political establishment in Nigeria.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 4:38 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Naija News

The Rejection of "Adjective-Driven" Political Labels

In a provocative interview held in Abuja, Omoyele Sowore, the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), challenged the media and the public to stop using "adjectives to qualify criminals." Speaking on the current state of Nigerian politics, Sowore asserted that the term "opposition" is being misapplied to individuals who are fundamentally part of the same establishment they claim to challenge. He maintained that true opposition cannot exist between factions that share the same history of governance and corruption, effectively dismissing the current political friction as a dispute among peers rather than a battle for systemic change.

Bala Mohammed and the Allegations of Administrative Malfeasance

Focusing on Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Sowore rejected the idea that the Governor represents a dissenting voice against the current administration. He drew attention to Mohammed’s tenure as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alleging that his administration was marked by corruption levels that rivaled or exceeded those of the current Minister, Nyesom Wike. Sowore highlighted that Mohammed and his son had previously faced prosecution by the Federal High Court, arguing that his political history makes him indistinguishable from the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). For Sowore, Mohammed’s reported 60/40 power deal to join the APC is merely a formalization of a long-standing alignment.

Critiquing the "Packaging" of Peter Obi

Sowore also directed his criticism toward Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, whom he accused of "misleading" his supporters. The activist pointed to Obi’s recent tactical alliances with figures like Nasir El-Rufai and the sponsorship of the ADC by Abubakar Malami as evidence that Obi has integrated into the very "structure of criminality" he once denounced. According to Sowore, Obi's willingness to collaborate with members of the old guard contradicts his image as an alternative political force. He urged supporters to re-evaluate the 2023 election cycle, claiming he had warned as early as 2022 that the "Obidient" movement was being steered by a politician who "opposes nothing."