The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Federal Government to take decisive action against Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, for what it described as inflammatory and treasonous remarks targeting President Bola Tinubu and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
In a fiery statement issued Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers APC Chairman Tony Okocha accused Sowore of peddling falsehoods to incite unrest and undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
Okocha’s remarks follow Sowore’s recent public statements labeling President Tinubu a “criminal” and alleging that Wike misused public funds to purchase luxury properties in Florida, USA.
Dismissing these claims as baseless, Okocha argued that Sowore’s history of spreading misinformation through his Sahara Reporters platform and his ongoing legal battles over cybercrime and defamation render his accusations unreliable.
“Spreading deliberate lies to defame leaders and incite Nigerians against the government is a treasonable felony,” Okocha declared.
“Such actions, rooted in malice, threaten the very fabric of our democracy.”The APC chairman painted Sowore as a serial provocateur whose activism masks a pattern of blackmail and extortion.
“Sowore’s career thrives on fabricated stories and half-truths,” he said, referencing the activist’s 2019 #RevolutionNow protests, which Okocha called an attempt to violently overthrow a legitimate government.
“No true democrat calls for chaos. His continued attacks on President Tinubu and Minister Wike are the desperate rants of a man rejected by voters and sinking into political obscurity.”
Okocha pointed to Sowore’s legal troubles, including charges of forgery, false publication, and circulating a fake police signal, as evidence of his lack of credibility.
“A man facing trial for such serious offenses should exercise restraint, not fan the flames of discord,” he said, urging Nigerians to reject what he described as Sowore’s propaganda disguised as activism.
“Criticism is part of democracy, but deliberate lies to sow distrust and destabilize the nation are unacceptable.”
The Rivers APC’s call for a “tough stance” comes amid heightened political tensions in Nigeria, with Sowore’s outspoken critiques often sparking polarized reactions.
His allegations against Wike, a former Rivers State governor and key Tinubu ally, have reignited debates about accountability and freedom of expression.
Okocha, however, framed the issue as a matter of national security, warning that unchecked rhetoric could erode public trust in institutions.
“We must protect our democracy from those who seek to tear it apart with lies,” Okocha concluded, calling on citizens to prioritize unity over provocation.
