1. Omoyele Yele Sowore was born on 16 February 1971 and is a Nigerian politician, human rights activist, citizen reporter, writer, lecturer and pro-democracy campaigner, known for founding the online news agency Sahara Reporters.
28 Facts About Omoyele Sowore
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On 3 August 2019, Omoyele Sowore was arrested by the Nigerian State Security Service, for alleged treason after calling for a protest tagged RevolutionNow.
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Omoyele Sowore was arrested again and assaulted during a protest in Abuja on 1 January 2021.
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Omoyele Sowore was injured by a police officer during a protest in Abuja on 31 May 2021.
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Yele Omoyele Sowore is from Ese-Odo, Ondo State in South West Nigeria.
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Omoyele Sowore was born in the Niger Delta region of the country where he was raised in a polygamous home with sixteen children.
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Omoyele Sowore studied Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos, from 1989 to 1995, his academic program extended by additional two years, after he was expelled twice for political reasons and student activism.
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Omoyele Sowore served as the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government between 1992 and 1994 during which time he was involved in anti-cultism and anti-corruption advocacy.
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Omoyele Sowore holds a master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.
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In 1992, Omoyele Sowore led 5,100 students in protest against the Nigerian government.
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Omoyele Sowore was involved in the demand for a democratic government taking over military rule in Nigeria on 12 June 1993.
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Later in the evening of same day, Omoyele Sowore confirmed the incident in a video he posted on his Facebook wall where he accused the police of supporting Fatodu while he assaulted him at the Area F Police Command.
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Omoyele Sowore was later charged with "conspiracy to commit treason and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari".
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On 24 September 2019, Omoyele Sowore was granted bail by the Federal High Court Abuja, on the condition that he surrender his international passport within forty-eight hours.
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The DSS has refused to release Omoyele Sowore claiming ignorance of the court order.
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The DSS' refusal to release Omoyele Sowore led to protests at the UN Plaza in New York led by Omoyele Sowore's wife and has sparked a global decry on Nigeria's failed democracy.
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On 29 September 2019, Omoyele Sowore made his first appearance in the media since his detention.
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Omoyele Sowore described his poor treatment, being locked up in a dark room without the sunlight.
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Omoyele Sowore mentioned that "Boko Haram commanders who are engaged in high level terrorism have access to telephone, TV and even cable in their cells" while he is being denied such access.
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In March 2022, it was reported that Omoyele Sowore, sued the Nigeria Police Force and three others at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over violation of his fundamental human rights.
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Omoyele Sowore started Sahara Reporters in New York City in 2006 to fight against corrupt and wrong government practices.
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On 25 February 2018, Omoyele Sowore announced his intention to run for presidency in the 2019 Nigerian general election.
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On 6 October 2018, following successful primary elections at the AAC's national convention, Omoyele Sowore emerged unchallenged as the Presidential Candidate for the party.
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Omoyele Sowore was in Luton, England, on 10 November 2018.
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Omoyele Sowore contested the 2023 general election as the presidential candidate of his party where he recorded 14,608 votes, an election he described as a "selection".
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Omoyele Sowore came fifth with 33,953 votes ahead of other new entrants to the race like Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria, who polled 16,779, and Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Democratic Party, who garnered 21,886 votes.
27.
On 1 March 2022, Omoyele Sowore announced his intention to run for president in the 2023 Nigerian general election.
28.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court barred Omoyele Sowore from travelling outside Abuja in October 2019.