A VIRAL video circulating on social media features a commentator questioning why Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, wants to legalise Marijuana Sativa in Nigeria.
The video, shared on X by user @IdrisZekeriJnr with the caption:
“My Orange beret brothers Part 5: Why do you want to legalise marijuana sativa? Is that our problem??”
The caption questions Sowore’s proposal and implies an endorsement of recreational smoking.
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CLAIM
Omoyele Sowore advocates for legalising marijuana for recreational consumption/smoking.
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that this claim is MISLEADING.
While Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has consistently advocated for legalising cannabis in Nigeria, his proposal focuses on commercial export, industrial development, and medical applications, rather than promoting recreational smoking.
Since 2018, Sowore has publicly stated that if he eventually becomes the president, he’d export marijuana to boost the country’s economy and regulate cannabis cultivation to boost its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through foreign exchange earnings. He noted that cannabis grown in regions like Ekiti State has huge global market potential for medical research, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
The Cable reported in October 2022 where Sowore explicitly clarified his personal stance and intent that he doesn’t consume cannabis and has never smoked it in his life, that his concern stems from justice, not the intake.
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Furthermore, in August 2026, Sowore put out a statement calling on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to stop destroying cannabis farms, he reiterated that legalisation and regulation should focus on economic opportunities, research, and medical usage.
VERDICT
The claim that Omoyele Sowore advocates for legalising marijuana for recreational smoking is MISLEADING. Findings show that while he supports legalising cannabis, his focus is strictly on industrial, commercial export, and medical uses to generate revenue for Nigeria.
Seasoned writer and literary curator, Zainab Abdulrasaq is a factchecker for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached on IG @blackbookishgirl or zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org
