African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has challenged former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi to account for their records in government and apologise to Nigerians over policies he said have contributed to the country’s economic hardship.
Sowore made the remarks on Monday during a discussion at the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the debate centred partly on fuel subsidy and the consequences of its removal.
The AAC candidate insisted that he had remained consistent in opposing the removal of fuel subsidies, arguing that successive administrations had repeatedly removed subsidies while promising Nigerians that the economy would improve.
Sowore questioned who had benefited most from the removal of the subsidy, arguing that increased government revenues had not translated into sufficient relief for ordinary Nigerians facing rising living costs.
He also criticised politicians who, according to him, had previously occupied government positions but were now presenting themselves as solutions to Nigeria’s problems ahead of the 2027 elections.
Referring to Amaechi and other former public officials, Sowore said politicians who had already governed should account for their records instead of returning to seek power without acknowledging their shortcomings.
“There are no people coming back. You guys should be apologising to the Nigerian people,” he said.
Sowore also took aim at Amaechi’s record as Minister of Transportation, particularly the railway projects executed during his tenure. He argued that better transportation infrastructure could have helped reduce the impact of high fuel prices on Nigerians.
The exchange became heated when Amaechi challenged Sowore’s criticism. Amaechi defended his record, saying he built the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna railway lines and that they were operational during his tenure.
Amaechi also questioned Sowore’s experience in government and told him to remain quiet while politicians were speaking. The confrontation was captured on video and subsequently circulated widely online.
Sowore further criticised Peter Obi, focusing on his record as governor of Anambra State. He alleged that education and healthcare workers in the state experienced prolonged strikes during Obi’s tenure and argued that Nigerians should examine the records of politicians before supporting their presidential ambitions.
“You may like him as a president, but he did not perform as a governor,” Sowore said.
The fuel subsidy issue has remained one of Nigeria’s most contentious economic debates. Obi himself had previously argued that fuel subsidy was unsustainable and should be removed, with the savings redirected toward productive sectors of the economy.
Sowore’s latest comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition figures increasingly scrutinising the records and policy positions of politicians who have previously held public office.
The disagreement between Sowore and Amaechi at the NBA conference has since attracted considerable attention, particularly because of the contrasting positions of the politicians on governance, fuel subsidy and their records in public office.
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