The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has said he would not seek medical treatment abroad if elected president in 2027, insisting that any illness he could not treat in Nigeria should not take him outside the country.
Sowore made the statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, while outlining some of the principles he said would guide his administration if elected.
The activist-turned-politician said he would rely on Nigeria’s healthcare system rather than engage in medical tourism, a practice that has remained a subject of public debate.
“Any sickness that I can’t treat in Nigeria when I become president should better kill me. I can tell you that for free,” Sowore said.
He also said he would maintain a clear separation between his family and the affairs of government, arguing that the Presidency should not be used to provide privileges or positions for family members.
Sowore said he would not establish an official Office of the First Lady if elected, arguing that the position is not created by the Nigerian Constitution.
“I’m not bringing family liabilities back to Nigeria. There is no office of First Lady in the Nigerian Constitution,” he said.
The AAC candidate, however, stressed that becoming president would not affect his marriage, but said his wife would not occupy an official government position as First Lady.
“Becoming president will not abolish my marriage, but I will not have the office of First Lady,” he added.
Sowore also said women would continue to have a role in his administration, but questioned the need for an office he considers unconstitutional.
“Women will be heard, but I don’t believe that you need a First Lady who is holding an unconstitutional position and just wasting money that is meant for progress and projects,” he said.
His comments on medical treatment and the First Lady’s office form part of his broader campaign message ahead of the 2027 presidential election, in which he is seeking the presidency on the AAC platform.
The remarks also come amid continuing public discussions about the cost of governance, the use of public resources by political office holders and the practice of Nigerian leaders seeking medical treatment outside the country.