Rejected Ballots Got More Votes Than Sowore’s AAC In 2023, Says APC Spokesman

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has claimed that rejected ballot papers received more votes than the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, while describing the party’s presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, as a “skit maker.”

Basiru made the remarks while reacting to Sowore’s request to use the Presidential Villa for the inauguration of the AAC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), scheduled for November 11.

The APC spokesman spoke during an interview on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, where he questioned Sowore’s political relevance and electoral strength.

Asked whether he would support the request to use the Presidential Villa for the event, Basiru said he had no authority to grant such permission.

“I don’t work for Mr President. I am the National Publicity Secretary of the party, and he has not applied to the party,” he said.

Basiru, however, went on to mock Sowore’s political ambitions, describing him as a friend from their days of student activism but insisting that the request was unlikely to be granted.

“Sowore is a skit maker. You know he is my friend; all of us were in the trenches in our school days. He knew that would not happen,” he said.

The APC spokesman challenged the AAC presidential candidate to first demonstrate his electoral strength by winning a legislative seat before seeking broader political recognition.

“Let him struggle to even get a seat in the House of Assembly in his political party, and people will begin to take him seriously. So, he is just making a skit,” Basiru added.

He further questioned the AAC’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, claiming that rejected ballot papers recorded more votes than the party.

“Even rejected ballot papers had more votes than his party in the 2023 elections. That means rejected ballot papers are more popular than his political party,” he said.

Basiru further dismissed Sowore’s political activities, saying, “He is not serious.”

Sowore, a human rights activist and publisher, contested the 2023 presidential election under the AAC platform and has continued to pursue his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His request to use the Presidential Villa for the campaign council’s inauguration has drawn criticism from the APC spokesman, who questioned the political standing of the opposition party and its presidential candidate.