Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, returned to Nigeria from the United States on Sunday, September 27, 2026, to continue his campaign for the 2027 presidential election.
Sowore announced his return in a statement issued to journalists, saying he was pleased to be back with his family and in Nigeria after spending more than 20 months in the United States.
He said his departure from Nigeria was linked to arrests, detention, travel restrictions and the seizure of his international passport by Nigerian security agencies, according to his account.
During his stay in the US, Sowore said he met with Nigerians in the diaspora, supporters, activists and other stakeholders to discuss developments in Nigeria and his political plans.
He also took part in a solidarity march for Palestine in New York and continued his campaign for voting rights for Nigerians living outside the country.
Sowore said his party remained committed to involving Nigerians in the diaspora in the country’s democratic process. He said an AAC government would work towards introducing diaspora voting if elected in 2027.
The AAC candidate was expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos before travelling to Abuja.
He also said he would continue attending court proceedings over the cybercrime case filed against him by the Department of State Services in 2025. PUNCH had earlier reported that the DSS planned to suspend the case until after the 2027 presidential election.
Sowore said his return to Nigeria would begin another stage of his nationwide campaign ahead of the election. He plans to engage workers, students, youths, women, farmers, traders, professionals and communities as part of the campaign.
According to him, the engagements will centre on political, social and economic issues contained in the AAC’s 2027 agenda, including equal rights, justice, peace, security and economic development.
The AAC candidate said the 2027 election would give Nigerians the chance to determine the direction of the country’s political leadership. He maintained that his campaign would continue to push for changes in Nigeria’s political, social and economic systems.
Sowore also said he would take his campaign directly to Nigerians across the country as the election draws closer, with further engagements planned with different groups and communities.
Sowore is among the 18 presidential candidates on INEC’s final list for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.