Sowore challenges rivals to marathon; warns against voting sick president in 2023

Mr Sowore is among eighteen presidential candidates that would be participating in the February 25, 2023, presidential poll.

Tosin Ajuwon • December 31, 2022

Omoyele Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (AAC), has asked Nigerians to vote right and avoid electing a “sick president” in the 2023 election.

“It’s for everyone to vote right and ensure that the next four or eight years in the country does not fall in the hands of the very sick candidate.

“We (Nigerians) know them because Nigeria herself is a sick country. We can’t afford a sick candidate or President managing a sick country,” Mr Sowore said Saturday morning.

Mr Sowore is among eighteen presidential candidates that would be participating in the February 25, 2023, presidential poll.

He would be facing other top presidential contenders; Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (PDP) and Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the race.

Speaking at a marathon held in Ilu-Titun in the Okitipupa area of his native Ondo state, Mr Sowore explained that Nigerians would define the future of the country for another round of years with their vote next year.

He specifically challenged Nigerians not to vote based on ethnicity but rather support a candidate that is “competent and exposed” in the next year’s election.

According to him, “I invite other presidential candidates to participate in the marathon and see what happens.

“So, vote for a candidate who is vibrant and exposed, and I’m not asking anyone to vote for me based on ethnicity but I want it to be about competence, exposure and ambition,” Mr Sowore added during the long-distance foot race.

With less than two months to the 2023 poll, all eyes are already on Nigeria as its citizens prepare for the exercise even as the various candidates continue to solicit support from the electorates.

Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that it would conduct a free, fair and transparent election despite repeated attacks on its facilities by suspected arsonists in some areas of the country.

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