Omoyele Sowore was born February 16, 1971. He is a Nigerian human rights activist, citizen reporter, writer, lecturer and pro-democracy campaigner, known for founding the online news agency Sahara Reporters.

In August 2018, he founded the African Action Congress party and ran as its presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 Nigerian general election.

On August 3 2019, the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS), arrested Sowore, for alleged treason after calling for a protest tagged RevolutionNow. He was arrested again and assaulted during a protest in Abuja on January 1, 2021.

Sowore was injured by a police officer during a protest in Abuja on the 31st of May 2021.

Sowore studied Geography and 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 involved in anti-cultism and anti-corruption advocacy. Sowore holds a master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.

Sowore started Sahara Reporters in New York City in 2006 to fight against corrupt and wrong government practices. Sahara Reporters is supported by grants from the Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation. As part of its policy, Sahara does not accept adverts and financial support from the Nigerian Government.

Sowore also contested the 2023 general election as the presidential candidate of his party (AAC) where he recorded 14,608 votes, an election he described as a “selection”.

MyNigeria/Wikipedia