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 was born on February 16, 1971. He is a Nigerian politician and a human rights activist. He is also known as a citizen reporter, writer, and lecturer. Sowore is famous for starting an online news agency called Sahara Reporters.
In August 2018, he created the African Action Congress political party. He ran as its candidate for president in the 2019 Nigerian general election. Sowore also ran for President in the 2023 Nigerian General elections.
On August 3, 2019, Omoyele Sowore was arrested by the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS). This happened after he called for a protest named RevolutionNow. He was arrested again and hurt during a protest in Abuja on January 1, 2021. A police officer injured Sowore during another protest in Abuja on May 31, 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Yele Sowore comes from Ese-Odo, Ondo State in South West Nigeria. He grew up in the Niger Delta region. He was raised in a large family with sixteen children. When he was 12, he learned to ride a motorcycle. He used it to go fishing every morning to help feed his family before school. Sowore became interested in media during the time of military rule in Nigeria.
Sowore studied Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos. He was a student there from 1989 to 1995. His studies took two extra years because he was expelled twice. This happened due to his political activities and student activism. He was the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government between 1992 and 1994. During this time, he worked against cult groups and corruption. Sowore also has a master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.
Career
Activism for Change
In 1989, Sowore took part in student protests. They were protesting 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. Police opened fire during the protest, and seven protesters died. Sowore was arrested and treated badly. Omoyele also worked to demand a democratic government in Nigeria. This was to replace military rule on June 12, 1993. These actions led to several arrests and harsh treatment of protesters by government officials.
Arrests and Legal Challenges
On January 12, 2017, the Lagos State Police Command arrested Sowore. This was due to a complaint from a magazine publisher. Later that day, Sowore confirmed the event in a video. He said the police supported the publisher who attacked him.
Sowore was arrested by the DSS on August 3, 2019. This was before a planned nationwide protest called #RevolutionNow. The government later confirmed the arrest. Many activists, including Wole Soyinka, spoke out against it. Sowore was charged with "conspiracy to commit treason" and "insulting President Muhammadu Buhari".
On September 24, 2019, a court in Abuja granted Sowore bail. He had to give up his international passport. However, the DSS refused to release him, saying they did not know about the court order. This refusal led to protests in New York, led by Sowore's wife. It also caused global concern about Nigeria's democracy.
On September 29, 2019, Sowore spoke to the media for the first time since his arrest. He described being held in a dark room without sunlight. He mentioned that "Boko Haram commanders... have access to telephone, TV and even cable in their cells" while he did not. The court again ordered Sowore's release on December 5, 2019. However, DSS officers came to the court to re-arrest him. He was finally released on December 24, 2019.
On December 8, 2021, a court ordered the DSS to pay Omoyele Sowore 2 million Naira. This was for unlawfully taking 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 claimed they 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 believed he was planning another protest in October. He was released after a short detention and his passport was taken. He shared this on his social media.
Sahara Reporters News Agency
Sowore started Sahara Reporters in New York City in 2006. He created it to fight against corrupt government actions. Sahara Reporters gets support from grants from the Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation. As part of its rules, Sahara Reporters does not accept ads or money from the Nigerian Government.
Presidential Campaigns
On February 25, 2018, Sowore announced he would run for president. This was for the 2019 Nigerian general election. In August 2018, he started a political party, the African Action Congress (AAC). He would run for president under this party in 2019. On October 6, 2018, after successful primary elections, Omoyele Sowore became the AAC's presidential candidate without challenge. He traveled to many states in Nigeria and met important people. He also went on a fundraising tour around the world, including Australia, the United States, and the UK. He was in Luton, England, on November 10, 2018.
Sowore also ran in the 2023 general election as the presidential candidate for his party (AAC). He received 14,608 votes. He described this election as a "selection" rather than a fair vote.
Election Results
Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the 2019 election. He received over 15 million votes. His main opponent, Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party, came second with over 11 million votes. Sowore came in fifth place with 33,953 votes. He was ahead of other new candidates in the race.
On March 1, 2022, Sowore announced his plan to run for president again. This was for the 2023 Nigerian general election.
Personal Life
Sowore and his family live in Haworth, New Jersey, United States.
In September 2021, it was reported that Sowore's younger brother was shot and killed. This happened in Edo state.
A judge in Abuja, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, stopped Sowore from traveling outside Abuja in October 2019. Sowore said this rule prevented him from attending his brother’s burial.
See also
- Dele Farotimi
