Olayinka Hits Back: Sowore Has No Moral Standing to Call Tinubu a Criminal

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), of hypocrisy.

In a statement shared on social media on Friday, Olayinka criticized Sowore for labeling President Bola Tinubu a criminal, arguing that activists like Sowore are unable to take the same criticism they freely direct at others.

Olayinka’s remarks followed the discovery that Sowore is still listed as the National Chairman of the AAC on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website.

He wrote:
“People keep shouting about democracy, yet he’s the party chairman, the presidential candidate—he’s everything. A dictator operating under the guise of activism.”

Drawing a comparison, Olayinka continued:
“Imagine if President Tinubu were also the Chairman of the APC. Our so-called ‘human rights activist’ would be up in arms. These people promote ideals they can’t live by. They do to others what they wouldn’t tolerate themselves. That’s hypocrisy.”

Olayinka further noted that since the AAC’s formation in 2018, Sowore has consistently been its presidential candidate—in both the 2019 and 2023 elections—and has held onto the party’s leadership for years.

“He trusts no one but himself, believes only he is right,” Olayinka said. “That’s why he’s not only the party chairman but also the treasurer, financial secretary, and presidential candidate—essentially a one-man show.”

Mocking Sowore’s electoral performance, he concluded:
“With just 14,603 votes, he wants to be President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, and Chief Justice of Nigeria—all at once.”