AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore reports alleged attack in Ado‑Ekiti, police detain suspects

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the Alliance African Action Congress (AAC), announced that he and members of his team were attacked on 30 October 2026 at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore neighbourhood of Ado‑Ekiti, Ekiti State. The incident was later confirmed by the Ekiti State Police Command, which said it had arrested eleven individuals alleged to be linked to the assault.

In a post published on 4 November 2026, Sowore listed a number of public officials he believed were behind the attack. The names included Ekiti Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the governor’s chief security officer CSP Ayodele Akinlua, Ekiti Commissioner of Police Falade Adegoroye Michael, and several other senior figures such as the state director of services Adenijo Sola, and the chief press secretary Olayinka Oyebode, among others. Sowore also cleared the eleven arrested suspects of any involvement.

Background

Ekiti State has been described as relatively peaceful since Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji took office in 2022, with no major reports of violent clashes among political rivals during recent local, state and national elections, including the most recent governorship contest. The alleged attack on Sowore therefore stands out against this backdrop of calm. The police response was swift, with the state command confirming the arrests and indicating an ongoing investigation. Sowore’s accusations were framed as a response to what he termed “seditious and libelous” actions by the identified officials, and he suggested that he lacked confidence in the state police commissioner, whom he accused of complicity.

Why it matters

The incident has drawn attention to the security environment surrounding Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, as Sowore is a high‑profile candidate. The arrests and Sowore’s public naming of senior officials have raised concerns about potential interference with the investigation and the reputational impact on those officials. Legal experts cited section 373 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, noting that publicly accusing individuals without due process could be considered defamatory. The situation also highlights tensions between political actors and law‑enforcement agencies in Ekiti, a state previously noted for its stability.

What happens next

According to the Tribune article, Sowore was urged to submit a formal petition naming the alleged perpetrators to the Inspector General of Police rather than publishing the accusations in a public forum. The police investigation remains ongoing, and further legal proceedings may follow based on the outcomes of that inquiry.