BREAKING: ARMED MEN ALLEGEDLY ABDUCT AAC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OMOYELE SOWORE IN EKITI, VANDALISE CAMPAIGN VEHICLES

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has reportedly been attacked and allegedly abducted by armed men in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, during campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, when suspected political thugs allegedly stormed a restaurant where Sowore and members of his campaign team were gathered.

Sowore raised the alarm through posts on his official social media accounts, claiming that he and members of his team had been attacked inside the restaurant.

“Thugs just attacked us inside a restaurant in Ado Ekiti,” he wrote in one of the posts.

In a subsequent message, a post on his official X account declared that armed men had kidnapped him and that his whereabouts were unknown.

“Armed thugs kidnap Sowore. His current location is unknown!” the post stated.

The reported incident triggered concerns among members of the AAC and supporters of the presidential candidate, particularly over his safety and the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction.

In a statement signed by Abdulkareem Musa, spokesperson for the Sowore/Magashi Presidential Election Campaign, the campaign confirmed that it had raised concerns about the attack and called on security agencies to urgently establish what happened.

The campaign described the development as a serious security concern and demanded an immediate security assessment, appropriate protective measures and a thorough investigation.

It also called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities to intervene and ensure Sowore’s safety.

The campaign warned that political disagreements should not be allowed to degenerate into violence, intimidation or attacks against citizens exercising their democratic rights.

“Politics and elections are not warfare. No political actor or party has the right to engage violence, intimidation or attacks on citizens exercising their democratic rights,” the campaign stated.

It further maintained that any harm to Sowore or members of his campaign team would be unacceptable and demanded that anyone found responsible be held accountable.

Details about the identities of the alleged attackers, the number of people involved and the circumstances surrounding the reported abduction remained unclear as of the initial reports.

There were also conflicting or incomplete accounts concerning the extent of damage to campaign property, including reports of vandalised campaign vehicles. Further details were required to establish the full scale of the incident.

Efforts by media organisations to obtain confirmation from the Ekiti State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time their reports were published. The police had not publicly confirmed the alleged abduction or provided an account of Sowore’s whereabouts.

The reported attack comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with parties and candidates beginning to organise campaign engagements and mobilise supporters across different states.

Sowore, a human rights activist and publisher, is contesting the 2027 presidential election under the AAC platform. He has previously participated in presidential elections and is known for his criticism of successive Nigerian administrations.

The incident also occurred shortly after Sowore travelled to Ekiti State for campaign activities. On Thursday, October 29, he was absent from proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja in his ongoing cyberbullying trial, with his lawyer informing the court that he was away on campaign engagements in the state.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until November 3, 2026, for further proceedings.

The reported attack has raised concerns about the safety of political candidates, campaign workers and supporters as preparations for the 2027 elections continue. Political activities are expected to increase in the coming months, making the protection of participants and the enforcement of laws against political violence particularly important.

The AAC campaign insisted that security agencies must act immediately rather than wait for the situation to deteriorate. It called for Sowore’s safety to be established and for those responsible for the alleged attack to be identified.

As of the time of the initial reports on Friday afternoon, independent confirmation of the alleged kidnapping and the candidate’s exact whereabouts remained unavailable. The identities and motives of the alleged attackers had also not been established.

Street News Reporters will continue to monitor developments, including updates on Sowore’s whereabouts, any official statement from the Ekiti State Police Command, the response of security agencies and further information concerning the alleged attack on the AAC campaign team.