Just In: Sowore Attacked and Kidnapped In Ekiti

 

On Friday, 30 October 2026, Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, reported that he and members of his campaign team had been attacked in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

In posts on his X account, Sowore stated that armed thugs had attacked them inside a restaurant. One post read: “Armed thugs kidnap Sowore. His current location is unknown!” A subsequent post said: “We have been brutally attacked and injured by well armed government-sponsored thugs in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The @OfficialDSSNG provided these attackers with our exact location, enabling them to carry out this vicious assault. We won’t back down! We have a country to liberate!”

The AAC issued a press statement expressing alarm. It described an attack by gunmen, whom eyewitnesses allegedly identified as known thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at a restaurant named Tawakal-Tu. The party said Sowore’s whereabouts were unknown at the time and called on the Ekiti State Governor, the Inspector-General of Police and the state Commissioner of Police to establish his location, guarantee his safety, arrest those responsible and prosecute them. The statement warned that the party would hold the authorities accountable and threatened mass action if no prompt response was forthcoming.

A statement from the spokesperson for the Sowore/Magashi Presidential Election Campaign, Abdulkareem Musa, similarly described the incident as a serious security concern, called for an urgent investigation by security agencies and stressed that politics should not involve violence or intimidation.

Sowore had been in Ekiti State the previous day for presidential campaign activities. His absence from a Federal High Court appearance in Abuja on Thursday was attributed by his lawyers to these engagements.

The Ekiti State Police Command later issued an official press release clarifying the situation. It categorically stated that Sowore was not kidnapped. According to the command, preliminary information indicated that he had an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti. Police were alerted, operatives mobilised to the scene and successfully rescued him. He sustained a minor injury and was receiving medical attention at the Police Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.

Commissioner of Police Falade Adegoroye Michael ordered a discreet investigation to establish the full circumstances, identify those involved and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice. The command urged the public to disregard the kidnapping narrative, refrain from circulating unverified information and remain calm. It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property regardless of political affiliation.

As of the latest available reports, the incident remains under investigation. Independent verification of the full sequence of events and the identities of those involved was still limited at the time initial media reports appeared. The differing accounts from Sowore, his party and the police highlight the need for a transparent and thorough inquiry.

This episode occurs amid intensifying political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections. Security agencies have previously warned against violence and political thuggery in the state.