Sowore: “The Race I Want to Win is 2027” – Presidential Candidate Eyes Tinubu’s Seat
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 general elections, has expressed his determination to challenge President Bola Tinubu and other contenders in the 2027 presidential race. Sowore, a prominent human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, made this declaration on Saturday during a conversation with journalists at the 2025 and 3rd ECOWAS-Abuja International Marathon.
Speaking with confidence, Sowore said the race he is focused on winning will soon take place, with President Tinubu and other candidates in the running. “The race I want to win is happening soon. The race in which you put me, Tinubu, and others, and I can collect this prize. We will see who wins that one,” Sowore remarked.
The AAC candidate, who also participated in the 5km marathon, took the opportunity to highlight the potential of sports in Nigeria’s economy, suggesting that investing in sports could generate revenue comparable to the oil sector. He commended the runners for their commitment and emphasized the importance of participation, stating, “Everybody that ran here is high-profile. It takes a lot of energy to run 5km. I didn’t want to win because I want others to win. I just want to participate.”
Sowore further advocated for the Nigerian government to invest in a broader range of sports, including swimming, snooker, javelin, and shot put, to encourage talent development and economic growth. He stressed that, instead of focusing solely on oil revenues, Nigeria should consider sports as an untapped avenue for national prosperity. “Instead of going after oil and sharing oil money, maybe people should invest more in sports in every sector. We can even do Winter Olympics. Nigerians can do anything, and that’s why we deserve better leaders,” Sowore concluded.
His remarks, blending political ambition and a vision for a more diversified economy, resonated as he reiterated his belief that Nigeria deserves leaders who can unlock its full potential.
