THE 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has accused suspected political thugs allegedly linked to the Ekiti State Government House of attacking him and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti.
Sowore in a Facebook post shared on Friday accompanied by disturbing photos also accused operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) of providing intelligence and operational support to the attackers, alleging that the security agency had been monitoring and harassing him since his arrival in the state.
The activist made the allegations following an attack on his team shortly after he concluded an interview at MIDAS FM 90.5 in Ado-Ekiti.
However, the Ekiti State Police Command dismissed reports that the activist had been kidnapped, confirming that he sustained injuries during an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, in statement on Friday said operatives responded to a distress call, rescued Sowore and took him to the Police Hospital in Ado-Ekiti for medical attention.
According to Abutu, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had ordered an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those involved and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
The police spokesperson described the injury as minor and urged members of the public to disregard reports of an alleged kidnapping.
“The attention of the Ekiti State Police Command has been drawn to a message circulating on social media alleging that Mr Omoyele Sowore was kidnapped by armed thugs in Ado-Ekiti, with his whereabouts unknown. The command wishes to categorically clarify that Mr Sowore was not kidnapped. Rather, preliminary information indicates that he had an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant in Ado Ekiti, following which the police were immediately alerted.
“Upon receiving the report, police operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene and successfully rescued him. He, however, sustained a minor injury and is currently receiving medical attention at the Police Hospital, Ado-Ekiti,” Abutu added.
The attack comes as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, in which Sowore is seeking the presidency on the platform of the AAC.
Sowore, a human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, contested the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections. He is also known for his criticism of successive Nigerian governments and his involvement in the #RevolutionNow movement.
The Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at the SSS, Favour Dozie, told The ICIR that Sowore should provide evidence to substantiate his allegations when contacted for a response.
The ICIR also contacted the Ekiti State Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, for reaction to Sowore’s claim that thugs from the Ekiti State Government House attacked him. Oyebode said the state Government House was a response place of governance and not for producing thugs.
“Government House doesn’t breed thugs here. The Government Housse is a responsible place. The government does not even know whether he’s in town or not. Ekiti State is a very peaceful place, perhaps one of the most peaceful states in the country because the governor is a man of peace.
“If he had any issue with anybody in town, he’s not going to bring government to that. That’s why we have the law enforcement agencies who are to weigh in to such a thing. As regards allegation of government thugs, there is nothing like government thugs. Even when we had the governorship election, nobody attacked anyone in Ekiti. The election was the freest. The man has just been sworn in for the second time. Everywhere is peaceful.”
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.