African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has accused operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) of discriminatory treatment during the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Sowore made the allegation in a statement shared on his verified X account on Wednesday, claiming that DSS officials stopped him at the entrance to the event organised by the National Peace Committee.
According to the former presidential candidate, one of the security operatives asked him to produce his invitation letter despite knowing that he was a presidential candidate participating in the event.
Sowore alleged that he was subjected to additional scrutiny while another presidential candidate who arrived with a large convoy was allowed into the venue without facing similar checks.
He further claimed that security officials initially prevented him from entering with members of his staff and later told him that his camera crew would also not be allowed into the venue.
The AAC candidate said the incident reflected what he described as a broader pattern within Nigeria’s security agencies, where people without large convoys or heavily armed security details are sometimes treated as less important.
Sowore argued that such treatment amounted to intimidation and class discrimination, particularly at an event specifically organised to encourage peaceful and democratic elections.
He said all presidential candidates attending the Peace Accord should receive equal treatment and respect, regardless of their financial resources, political influence or security arrangements.
He said, “If this is supposed to be a peace accord involving presidential candidates, then every candidate must be treated with equal dignity and respect.”
Sowore maintained that the level of security surrounding a candidate should not determine how that individual is treated by security agencies.
He also argued that access to the event should not depend on the number of vehicles in a candidate’s convoy, the size of their security detail or the privileges associated with their political status.
The AAC candidate said he resisted what he considered discriminatory treatment and insisted on his rights before eventually being allowed to participate in the event.
The allegation comes as presidential candidates and political parties step up preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The National Peace Committee organised the accord as part of efforts to encourage candidates and political parties to commit to peaceful campaigns, responsible conduct and respect for the electoral process ahead of the polls.
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