On Monday, The African Action Congress made an announcement of the suspension of Omoyele Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the party in the 2019 general election. Sowore was suspended along with eight others including the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South West), Ogunlana Rotimi Jacob, for a period of six months over alleged anti-party activities.

Consequently, Dr. Leonard Ezenwa has been appointed to serve in the capacity of acting National Chairman while Abayomi Francis Olufemi has been named by the party as the Deputy National Chairman.

Mazi Okwy, a member of the AAC National Executive Committee, who read out the resolution of the party to journalists in Abuja, premised the decision on the allegetions against Sowore, Publisher of Saharareporters and his executive.

He further said that the allegation bordered “particularly with inflow of illegal foreign funds into the party and and personally retaining same in contravention of Section 225 (3)(4) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) together with eight others.”

But the Head of Media and Public Relations Sowore Campaign Organisation, Rachel Onamusi-Kpiasi, when contacted, told THE PUNCH from United Kingdom that “Leonard (Ezenwa) has been suspended from the party for anti-party activities for months and is in no position to suspend the national chairman. I will send a fully formed press release shortly.”

Omoyele Sowore (born 16 February 1971) is a Nigerian human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner, and the founder of online news agency Sahara Reporters.

Omoyele Sowore is from Ese-Odo, Ondo State in South West Nigeria. Contrary to popular belief, Sowore is of Ijaw Apoi tribe and not the Ilaje tribe in Ese-Odo. Sowore was born in the Niger Delta region of the country where he was also raised in a polygamous home with sixteen children. At 12, he learnt how to ride a motorcycle so that he could fish at the lake for the entire family before going to school every morning. Sowore’s passion and desire in media was propelled during the military rule in Nigeria.

Sowore studied Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1995 with his academic program extended by two extra years after being expelled twice for political reasons and student activism. He was the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government between 1992 and 1994 where he was keenly involved in anti-cultism and anti-corruption advocacy. Sowore holds a Master degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.

(The Punch/Wikipedia)

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