AAC Presidential Candidate Omoyele Sowore Hospitalised After Alleged Attack by Thugs in Ekiti, Brother and Campaign Members Reportedly Macheted

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has reportedly been hospitalised following an alleged violent attack by suspected political thugs in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The incident, which occurred on Friday, October 30, 2026, reportedly involved Sowore and members of his entourage while they were at a restaurant in the state capital.

Reports indicate that the attackers stormed the restaurant and assaulted members of the politician’s team, with some reportedly sustaining machete injuries. Sowore’s brother and other campaign members were also said to have been attacked during the incident.

The development has generated widespread concern among Nigerians, particularly as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

How the Attack Happened

According to reports, the incident occurred at Tawakal’tu Restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, where Sowore and members of his team were present.

The activist was reportedly in Ekiti State for political engagements and activities connected to his presidential campaign.

Eyewitness accounts cited by SaharaReporters indicated that armed men invaded the restaurant and attacked people around the premises.

The attack reportedly caused panic, forcing customers and other individuals inside the establishment to flee for safety.

Some members of Sowore’s entourage allegedly sustained serious injuries after being assaulted with machetes, while furniture and other properties inside the restaurant were reportedly damaged.

Photographs and videos circulating online showed the aftermath of the incident, including damaged furniture and vehicles around the location.

Sowore’s media team subsequently raised the alarm over the attack, initially claiming that the presidential candidate had been abducted and that his whereabouts were unknown.

Sowore Accuses DSS and Ekiti Government Officials

Following the incident, Sowore and members of his media team accused individuals allegedly connected to the Ekiti State Government House of being behind the attack.

The activist also accused operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) of allegedly providing information about his location to the attackers.

In a statement shared through his official social media account, his media team alleged that the attackers were government-sponsored individuals who had received information that enabled them to locate the presidential candidate.

The statement further alleged that campaign members were brutally assaulted and that vehicles belonging to the entourage were damaged.

However, these allegations have not been independently established, and the DSS and Ekiti State Government had not publicly confirmed the accusations in the reports available at the time of publication.

Sowore later spoke from a hospital, where he reportedly gave his account of what happened and repeated his allegations against individuals he believed were responsible.

Police Confirm Attack, Dismiss Kidnapping Reports

The Ekiti State Police Command has confirmed that Sowore was involved in an attack in Ado-Ekiti but dismissed reports that he had been kidnapped.

According to the police, officers were quickly deployed following a distress report and successfully rescued the AAC presidential candidate.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, explained that preliminary investigations indicated that Sowore was involved in an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti.

The police further disclosed that Sowore sustained minor injuries during the incident and was receiving medical attention at the Police Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.

The command also announced that the Commissioner of Police, CP Michael Falade, had ordered a discreet investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify everyone involved.

The police urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports suggesting that Sowore had been kidnapped.

AAC Raises Alarm Over Safety of Campaign Members

The African Action Congress has expressed serious concerns over the attack on its presidential candidate and members of his campaign team.

The party called on the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, Independent National Electoral Commission and other relevant security agencies to investigate the incident.

In a statement signed by Abdulkareem Musa, spokesperson for the Sowore/Magashi Presidential Election Campaign, the campaign described the incident as a serious security concern.

The party maintained that political activities should not expose candidates, supporters or ordinary citizens to violence and intimidation.

It also demanded an immediate security assessment and appropriate protective measures to prevent further attacks.

The campaign warned that political disagreements should never be settled through physical violence, insisting that every political party and candidate must be allowed to participate in democratic activities without intimidation.

Attack Raises Concerns Ahead of 2027 Elections

The incident has renewed concerns about political violence and the safety of opposition figures as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Sowore, a journalist, human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, has remained a vocal critic of successive Nigerian administrations.

He has previously contested presidential elections and is seeking the presidency again under the African Action Congress.

The attack has therefore attracted attention beyond Ekiti State, with political observers and Nigerians questioning the safety of candidates and their supporters during campaign activities.

Political violence remains a major concern in Nigeria, particularly during election periods when disagreements between supporters of different political parties can sometimes escalate into confrontations.

Investigation Expected to Establish What Happened

While the police have confirmed the attack and announced an investigation, several questions remain unanswered, including the identities of the individuals involved and the circumstances that led to the confrontation.

The allegations made by Sowore and his media team against the DSS and individuals allegedly connected to the Ekiti State Government also require proper investigation.

For now, attention remains on Sowore’s recovery, the condition of the injured campaign members and the efforts of security agencies to establish what happened.

The incident has once again highlighted the need for peaceful political participation and adequate protection for candidates, their supporters and members of the public.