The 2027 African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Department of State Services of discriminatory treatment at a peace accord signing event for presidential candidates.
Sowore made the allegation in a post on his verified X account on Wednesday, claiming that DSS operatives stopped him at the entrance and demanded to see his invitation despite knowing he was a presidential candidate.
According to him, the situation contrasted with the treatment given to another presidential candidate who arrived with a large convoy and was allowed into the venue without similar checks.
Sowore also alleged that security officials initially barred him from entering with his staff and later told him that his camera crew could not accompany him.
“I refused to accept this discriminatory treatment. If this is supposed to be a peace accord involving presidential candidates, then every candidate must be treated with equal dignity and respect,” he said.
The activist argued that candidates should not be treated differently based on the size of their convoys, security details or perceived social status.
He said the incident reflected what he described as a wider culture of intimidation, class discrimination and arbitrary treatment by security agencies in Nigeria.
Sowore said he insisted on his rights and would not accept what he considered discriminatory conduct at an event intended to promote peaceful elections.
