Omoyele Sowore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Omoyele Sowore
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Sowore in 2016
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| Born | 16 February 1971 Ondo State, Nigeria
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| Education | University of Lagos Columbia University |
| Occupation | Human rights activist, Founder of Sahara Reporters, Citizen reporter, lecturer |
| Political party | African Action Congress (2018–present |
| Spouse(s) | Opeyemi Sowore (m. 2004) |
Omoyele Yele Sowore (born 16 February 1971) is a Nigerian politician and a person who works to protect human rights. He is also a citizen reporter, writer, and lecturer. He is well-known for starting an online news website called Sahara Reporters. In August 2018, he created a political party called the African Action Congress. He ran for president of Nigeria in both the 2019 and 2023 elections.
On 3 August 2019, Omoyele Sowore was arrested by the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS). This happened after he asked people to join a protest called RevolutionNow. He was arrested again and hurt during a protest in Abuja on 1 January 2021. Sowore was also injured by a police officer during another protest in Abuja on 31 May 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Yele Sowore comes from Ese-Odo, a place in Ondo State in South West Nigeria. He was born and grew up in the Niger Delta region. He lived in a large family with sixteen children. When he was 12, he learned to ride a motorcycle. He used it to go to the lake every morning to fish for his family before school. Sowore became very interested in media during the time when the military ruled Nigeria.
Sowore studied Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1995. His studies took two extra years because he was expelled twice. This happened because of his political actions and his work as a student activist. He was the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government between 1992 and 1994. During this time, he worked against secret cults and corruption. Sowore also has a master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.
Sowore's Career and Activism
Early Activism
In 1989, Sowore took part in student protests. They were against the conditions of a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). One condition was to reduce the number of universities in Nigeria.
In 1992, Sowore led 5,100 students in a protest against the Nigerian government. During this protest, police opened fire, and seven protesters died. Sowore was arrested and treated badly. Omoyele also worked hard to demand a democratic government to replace military rule in Nigeria on 12 June 1993. This led to many arrests and harsh treatment of protesters by government officials.
Arrests and Legal Challenges
On 12 January 2017, the Lagos State Police Command arrested Sowore. This was because of a complaint from a magazine publisher. Later that day, Sowore posted a video on Facebook. In the video, he said the police supported the publisher who hurt him at the police station.
Charges and Detention
Sowore was arrested by the DSS on 3 August 2019. This was before a planned nationwide protest called #RevolutionNow. The government later said they had arrested him. Many activists, like Wole Soyinka, spoke out against the arrest. Sowore was later accused of planning to challenge the government and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.
On 24 September 2019, the Federal High Court in Abuja said Sowore could be released on bail. He had to give up his international passport within two days. However, the DSS did not release Sowore. They said they did not know about the court order. The DSS's refusal led to protests in New York, led by Sowore's wife. This made people around the world question Nigeria's democracy.
On 29 September 2019, Sowore spoke to the media for the first time since his arrest. He described being held in a dark room without sunlight. The court again ordered Sowore's release on 5 December 2019. But the next day, DSS officers came to the court to arrest him again. He was finally released on 24 December 2019.
On 8 December 2021, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the DSS to pay Omoyele Sowore 2 million Naira. This was because they had unlawfully taken his mobile phone in 2019 when he was arrested.
In March 2022, it was reported that Omoyele Sowore sued the Nigeria Police Force and others. He said they had violated his basic human rights.
In September 2024, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) held Sowore at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. This happened when he arrived from the United States. They thought he was planning another protest. He was released after a short time, and his passport was taken. He shared this on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Sahara Reporters News Agency
Sowore started Sahara Reporters in New York City in 2006. He wanted to use it to fight against bad government actions and corruption. Sahara Reporters gets money from grants from the Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation. As part of its rules, Sahara Reporters does not accept advertisements or money from the Nigerian Government.
Presidential Campaigns
On 25 February 2018, Sowore announced that he wanted to run for president in the 2019 Nigerian general election. In August 2018, he started a political party called the African Action Congress (AAC). He would run for president with this party in 2019. On 6 October 2018, after successful primary elections, Omoyele Sowore became the only Presidential Candidate for the AAC party. He traveled to many states in Nigeria and met important people. He also went on a trip around the world to raise money, visiting places like Australia, the USA, and the UK. He was in Luton, England, on 10 November 2018.
Sowore also ran for president in the 2023 general election as the candidate for his party (AAC). He received 14,608 votes. He described this election as a "selection," meaning he felt it was not truly fair.
Election Results
In the 2019 election, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won with 15,191,847 votes. His main opponent, Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party, came second with 11,264,977 votes. Sowore came in fifth place with 33,953 votes. He was ahead of other new candidates like Fela Durotoye and Kingsley Moghalu.
On 1 March 2022, Sowore announced his plan to run for president again in the 2023 Nigerian general election.
Personal Life
Sowore and his family have lived in Haworth, New Jersey.
In September 2021, it was reported that Sowore's younger brother sadly passed away due to violence in Edo state.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja said Sowore could not travel outside Abuja in October 2019. Sowore said this rule stopped him from attending his brother’s burial.
See also
- Dele Farotimi
