Amaechi Wouldn’t Have Been Governor, Minister Without My Struggle for Democracy — Sowore

The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has claimed that former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, would not have attained those political positions without his own struggle for democracy.

Sowore made the statement on Tuesday during a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, days after he engaged Amaechi in a heated debate at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The AAC presidential candidate said Amaechi benefited from the democratic environment created through struggles by activists, including himself.

“He benefited from my extraordinary struggle for democracy. After the NBA event, I asked him to apologise to me,” Sowore said.

He explained that his comments were rooted in his longstanding commitment to promoting democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

According to Sowore, individuals have different motivations and experiences that shape their political activities, adding that his own driving force had always been the pursuit of a better system of government.

“Well, everybody in this country came to do something. I’m talking about Nigerians that they believe in, and your experience is derived from what you believe in,” he said.

Sowore said his personal passion was to contribute to the establishment of democratic governance and improve the quality of leadership in Nigeria.

“What’s your passion? What’s your goal in life? Mine was to bring about good governance and to establish democracy,” he added.

His remarks followed the public exchange with Amaechi during the NBA conference, where both politicians discussed issues concerning Nigeria’s political development, governance and democracy.

Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, has previously served as governor of Rivers State and later as Minister of Transportation under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sowore, meanwhile, has remained a prominent critic of successive Nigerian governments and is seeking the presidency under the AAC in the 2027 general election.

The latest comments are likely to fuel further debate over the contributions of activists and political actors to Nigeria’s democratic development and the role of individuals in shaping the country’s political system.