No Office of First Lady Under My Presidency — Sowore

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has said there will be no Office of the First Lady if he is elected president in 2027.

Sowore made the declaration during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Tonight on Thursday, where he discussed his position on the role traditionally associated with the wife of Nigeria’s president.

The AAC candidate argued that the Nigerian Constitution does not establish an official position known as the First Lady.

“There is no office of First Lady in the Nigerian Constitution. Becoming the president will not abolish my marriage, but I will not have the office of First Lady,” Sowore said.

He explained that his position would not affect his marriage or prevent women from participating in his administration.

According to him, women would continue to have a voice in government, but he would not support the use of public resources to maintain an office for the president’s wife that is not expressly created by the Constitution.

“Women will be heard, but I don’t believe that you need a first lady who is holding an unconstitutional position and just wasting money that is meant for progress and projects,” he said.

Sowore added that the decision would be a matter of policy under his administration.

“I am just telling you as a matter of policy that there won’t be an office of the First Lady under the Sowore presidency,” he said.

The 1999 Constitution does not specifically establish an Office of the First Lady among the offices created under its provisions.

Despite this, presidential spouses have traditionally occupied the First Lady title and have been involved in social initiatives, public engagements and programmes focused on areas including women, children, health and education.

The current First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has maintained a public platform through various initiatives and engagements since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.

Sowore’s position therefore represents a proposed change in how the role of a presidential spouse would be handled under his administration.

The AAC candidate is among the politicians preparing to contest the 2027 presidential election, with campaigns and political consultations expected to intensify as the election approaches.

His latest comments place constitutional interpretation, public spending and the role of presidential spouses among the issues he is highlighting as part of his proposed approach to governance.

Sowore has previously campaigned on institutional reforms and changes to Nigeria’s political system, and his latest declaration provides further details on how his administration would structure activities surrounding the presidency.