Human rights lawyers Deji Adeyanju and Inibehe Effiong have condemned the reported attack on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, calling on security agencies to take urgent action and ensure accountability.
The lawyers’ reactions followed an incident on Friday, October 30, 2026, when armed men reportedly attacked Sowore and members of his campaign team at a restaurant in the Ekiti State capital.
Adeyanju expressed concern over the incident, saying he received information about the attack from one of Sowore’s aides. He particularly raised alarm over reports that the police officer attached to the presidential candidate had been disarmed during the confrontation.
In a statement, Adeyanju described the incident as an act of violence and political intimidation, insisting that such conduct had no place in a democratic society.
“I strongly condemn this brazen act of violence and political intimidation. There is absolutely no place for such lawlessness in a democracy,” he said.
The lawyer called on relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, guarantee Sowore’s safety and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
Inibehe Effiong also condemned the reported incident and called for urgent intervention by the authorities. The reactions from both lawyers added to growing calls for an investigation into the attack and the protection of political candidates and their campaign teams.
Sowore had earlier raised the alarm through his social media accounts, reporting that he and members of his team were attacked inside a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti. Subsequent posts from his campaign indicated that his whereabouts were unknown, prompting concerns about a possible abduction.
The Sowore/Magashi Presidential Election Campaign, through its spokesperson, Abdulkareem Musa, called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities to establish what happened and ensure the candidate’s safety.
The campaign also demanded an immediate security assessment, protective measures and a thorough investigation, warning that political disagreements should never be settled through violence or intimidation.
It maintained that electoral activities should allow candidates and supporters to participate freely without fear of physical attacks, threats or harassment.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Police Command subsequently confirmed that Sowore was involved in an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti. Police spokesperson Sunday Abutu said officers responded to a distress report, intervened and rescued the politician.
The command denied reports that Sowore had been kidnapped, stating that he sustained minor injuries during the confrontation and was receiving medical attention at the Police Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.
The Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, reportedly ordered a discreet investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those involved and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the law.
The police clarification came after the initial reports from Sowore and his campaign team had raised concerns that the candidate’s whereabouts were unknown. The distinction between the reported attack and the alleged abduction became particularly important as conflicting accounts circulated publicly.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of opposition politicians, political campaign workers and supporters as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.
The reported disarming of a police officer attached to Sowore, as raised by Adeyanju, also presents an issue that investigators may need to clarify as part of their examination of the confrontation.
For the lawyers and other Nigerians calling for accountability, the investigation should establish what happened at the restaurant, identify the individuals involved and determine whether any criminal offences were committed.
Street News Reporters will continue to monitor the police investigation, reactions from Deji Adeyanju and Inibehe Effiong, and any further developments concerning the attack on Omoyele Sowore in Ekiti State.
