Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has strongly condemned the reported attack on Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in Ekiti State. Adeyanju received information about the attack from one of Sowore's aides and expressed concern over reports that the police officer attached to the activist was disarmed during the incident. He described the incident as an act of political intimidation and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice.
The attack occurred on Friday, October 30, 2026, at about 1:00 p.m. at Tawakalitu Restaurants and Catering Services in Ado-Ekiti, where Sowore was said to be during campaign-related activities. Armed men stormed the restaurant, and Sowore was reportedly abducted. His current location remains unknown. Adeyanju called on security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure Sowore's safety with immediate effect.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Adeyanju strongly condemned the brazen act of violence and political intimidation. He emphasized that there is absolutely no place for such lawlessness in a democracy. Adeyanju demanded that the relevant security agencies immediately investigate the incident, ensure Sowore's safety, and bring all those responsible to justice.
The Sowore/Magashi Presidential Election Campaign has also called on security agencies to urgently establish Sowore's whereabouts following the reported attack on him and members of his campaign team. The campaign organisation expressed grave concern over the incident and demanded immediate intervention by the relevant authorities. They called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other federal and state security agencies to establish what happened and ensure the safety of Sowore and his team.
The campaign council demanded an immediate security assessment, protective measures, and a thorough investigation into the incident. They warned that any harm to Sowore or members of his team would be unacceptable and insisted that they would demand accountability from the relevant authorities. The organisation maintained that electoral activities should not expose citizens to attacks and that politics and elections are not warfare.
The Ekiti State Police Command has not issued any official statement on the incident as of the time of reporting. The Sowore/Magashi Presidential Election Campaign warned that no political actor or party has the right to engage in violence, intimidation, or attacks on citizens exercising their democratic rights. They urged the authorities not to wait for a tragedy before taking preventive action.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of political candidates and the need for security agencies to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents. The African Action Congress and other stakeholders are awaiting a response from the Ekiti State Police Command and other security agencies on the incident.
Key points
- Deji Adeyanju condemns the attack on Omoyele Sowore and calls for an investigation.
- The Sowore/Magashi Presidential Election Campaign demands immediate intervention by security agencies to establish Sowore's whereabouts.
- The incident raises concerns about the safety of political candidates and the need for security agencies to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents.
