Key Takeaways

• Ajibola Basiru has rejected Sowore’s claim that he helped him gain admission to UNILAG.
• Basiru says he scored 310 in UTME and was admitted to study Law on merit.
• Sowore had claimed that he and other pro-democracy activists helped Basiru and Kunle Adegoke pursue admission to UNILAG.
• The dispute followed Basiru’s description of Sowore as a “skit maker and comedian.”
• Basiru also criticised Sowore’s claims about his role in pro-democracy activism.

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has rejected Omoyele Sowore’s claim that he helped him gain admission to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), insisting that he secured admission to study Law on merit.

Basiru, who responded to the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in a post on X on Thursday, said he scored 310 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which he described as the highest score among applicants to the university’s Faculty of Law in his admission year.

The exchange followed an earlier disagreement after Basiru described Sowore as a “skit maker and comedian” during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Basiru Says He Gained UNILAG Admission on Merit

In his response, Basiru disputed Sowore’s account of their relationship before his admission to UNILAG.

He rejected the suggestion that Sowore or anyone else provided assistance that enabled him to secure admission, arguing that his UTME performance was the basis for his entry into the university.

“Yele, you are outrightly dishonest writing that: ‘We provided them with an enabling environment to apply to re-enter the university, gain admission, and study Law at the University of Lagos @UnilagNigeria.’

I did not have any relationship with you before I got admitted to the University of Lagos. In fact, I got 310 in my UTME exam to gain admission to the University of Lagos and that was the best score for all applicants to the law faculty the year of my admission. So I was admitted on merit.”

— Ajibola Basiru, in his post on X, as reported in the supplied article.

Basiru maintained that his admission was based on his academic performance rather than any support from Sowore.

The claim that he scored 310 and that this was the highest score among applicants to the Faculty of Law is attributed to Basiru’s account. The supplied article does not provide independent admission records to verify those details.

Basiru Rejects Sowore’s Account of His Admission

Basiru also directly rejected Sowore’s claim that he had helped him gain admission to the university.

“It is outright falsehood to say you or anyone provided me with any enabling environment to get admission to the University of Lagos.”

— Ajibola Basiru, as reported in the supplied article.

The denial contradicts Sowore’s earlier account of their history during the period of pro-democracy activism under military rule.

According to the supplied report, Sowore had said that Basiru was expelled from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in 1992 over student activism before receiving assistance to continue his education at UNILAG.

Basiru’s response rejects that account of his admission. The competing statements leave the two men with different versions of the events surrounding their university history.

How the Dispute Between Basiru and Sowore Started

The disagreement followed Basiru’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, during which he described Sowore as a “skit maker and comedian” and questioned his political relevance.

Sowore responded on X the following day, recalling their involvement in pro-democracy activism during the military era. He also shared a photograph he said was taken with Basiru in 1998, when he was leading the Congress of Progressive Youths (COPY).

Sowore claimed that he had received Basiru alongside Kunle Adegoke, popularly known as K-Rad, who is now a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and that they helped provide an opportunity for the two men to apply for admission to study Law at UNILAG.

Basiru has now rejected that account and questioned Sowore’s description of himself as a revolutionary and freedom fighter.

Basiru Criticises Sowore’s Political Claims

Beyond disputing the university admission account, Basiru criticised Sowore’s political positioning and his claims about pro-democracy activism.

In his post, Basiru said he stood by his description of Sowore as a comedian and questioned whether Sowore believed he could win the Nigerian presidential contest.

“I honestly mean my statement that you are a comedian as I do not believe you yourself believe you have any chance in winning the contest for president of Nigeria, at least for now.

Leave your sanctimonious harangue to the unsuspecting young people you are lying to that you are a revolutionary or freedom fighter.”

— Ajibola Basiru, as reported in the supplied article.

The remarks extend the disagreement beyond the question of university admission to the two men’s contrasting views of Sowore’s political relevance and activism.

Basiru’s comments represent his own assessment of Sowore. The supplied article does not include a further response from Sowore to this latest rebuttal.

What the UNILAG Admission Dispute Means

The exchange centres on two conflicting accounts: Sowore’s claim that he helped Basiru pursue admission to UNILAG and Basiru’s insistence that he gained admission on merit without any relationship with Sowore before entering the university.

The dispute has also revived references to their reported history during the period of pro-democracy activism and brought their current political differences into sharper focus.

At this stage, the supplied article establishes that both men have made opposing statements. It does not independently verify the details of Basiru’s admission, his reported UTME ranking or the assistance Sowore says he provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Ajibola Basiru say about Sowore’s UNILAG admission claim?

Basiru rejected the claim, describing it as false and insisting that he gained admission to study Law at UNILAG on merit.

What UTME score did Basiru say he achieved?

Basiru said he scored 310 in UTME and claimed that it was the highest score among applicants to UNILAG’s Faculty of Law in his admission year.

What had Sowore claimed about Basiru?

Sowore claimed that he and other pro-democracy activists helped Basiru and Kunle Adegoke pursue admission to study Law at UNILAG after Basiru was expelled from UNILORIN.

Why did Basiru and Sowore exchange remarks?

The disagreement followed Basiru’s description of Sowore as a “skit maker and comedian” during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Sowore responded by recalling their reported history during pro-democracy activism.

Did Basiru confirm that Sowore helped him gain admission?

No. Basiru explicitly rejected Sowore’s account and said he gained admission on merit. The supplied article does not independently verify either man’s account.

Has Sowore responded to Basiru’s latest denial?

The supplied article does not report a further response from Sowore to Basiru’s latest post.

Conclusion

Ajibola Basiru has firmly rejected Sowore’s claim that he helped him gain admission to UNILAG, saying his UTME score secured his place on merit.

The response has turned their reported university history and past involvement in pro-democracy activism into the focus of a public political dispute. While Sowore’s account and Basiru’s denial differ sharply, the details of the admission process remain unverified by the information provided in the article.