Sowore Challenges Tinubu Over AAC’s Request To Use Presidential Villa For Campaign Event
African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has defended his party’s request to use the Presidential Villa in Abuja for its 2027 campaign council inauguration, arguing that opposition parties should enjoy the same access he says has been available to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Sowore made the argument during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Thursday, October 22, following criticism of his party’s request to President Bola Tinubu.
The AAC had written to Tinubu on October 21, seeking permission to inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council at the Villa on November 11 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party also requested food, drinks and other logistical support for 5,000 participants expected to attend the event.
In defending the request, Sowore alleged that the APC had used the Presidential Villa for party meetings, launches and weddings, arguing that the opposition should not be denied similar access to a facility he considers public property.
He also challenged the ruling party to produce receipts for its previous use of the Villa’s banquet hall, particularly where catering and other services were allegedly provided.
The AAC’s request has raised questions about the conditions under which political parties can use government facilities and whether public resources should be deployed to support party-organised events.
In its letter to the President, the party said its request was based on multiparty democracy, political inclusiveness and equal treatment of political parties.
It argued that approving the request would demonstrate that public institutions serve Nigerians regardless of their political affiliations.
The letter, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Oshiokhue Philip Ikpeminoghena, also asked the Presidency to communicate the procedures and conditions governing the proposed event.
The Presidency’s official website confirms that Tinubu inaugurated the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on October 14.
At the ceremony, the President charged members of the council and party leaders to work together ahead of the 2027 election while ensuring that the administration’s governance responsibilities remained on track.
However, the official announcement does not establish whether the APC received publicly funded catering or other logistical support for the event. It also does not verify Sowore’s separate allegation that the Villa has been used for weddings and other party gatherings over the years.
The AAC’s request therefore presents two distinct questions: whether opposition parties should have access to government facilities on equal terms and whether public funds should cover hospitality and logistics for partisan political events.
As of the latest information available during this research, I could not independently verify a formal decision by the Presidency on the AAC’s request.
