Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has raised the alarm over an alleged attack and abduction by suspected political thugs in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The activist disclosed the incident on Friday through a series of posts on his official Facebook page, claiming that he and others were attacked inside a restaurant in the state capital.
“Thugs just attacked us inside a restaurant in Ado Ekiti,” Sowore wrote in an earlier post.
In a subsequent update, a post on his Facebook page stated: “Armed thugs kidnap Sowore. His current location is unknown!”
However, the circumstances surrounding the reported incident remain unclear, and the alleged abduction had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Ekiti State Police Command were unsuccessful.
Sowore’s Alleged Abduction Amid Rising Political Activities
The reported attack comes amid increasing political mobilisation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, as political parties and their supporters intensify efforts to build support for their preferred candidates.
The incident also follows a call by Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, urging members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure at least 80 per cent of registered voters’ support for President Bola Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election.
Oyebanji made the appeal on Thursday at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti during the inauguration of the state chapter of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement.
The event also featured the presentation of 25 campaign vehicles to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The movement, convened by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, aims to mobilise voters through direct engagement and grassroots campaigns across the country.
Oyebanji Challenges APC Members to Mobilise Voters
Speaking at the inauguration, Oyebanji urged APC leaders and members in Ekiti State to intensify grassroots mobilisation, reach undecided voters and discourage voter apathy ahead of the presidential election.
He also called on campaigners to identify eligible voters with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) who had not participated in previous elections and encourage them to exercise their voting rights in January.
The governor said Ekiti State should demonstrate its appreciation for the support it had received from the Tinubu administration by delivering a strong electoral performance for the president.
According to him, federal government support had contributed to his administration’s development efforts, making continued cooperation between the state and federal governments important.
Recalling the APC’s performance in the last governorship election, Oyebanji challenged party members to translate their electoral success at the state level into votes for Tinubu.
“This is a big challenge to us in Ekiti State. If someone from the Niger Delta can put up this structure, and as of today, they have visited 19 states and are still going to visit other states before the end of the campaign, then I challenge all of us here to support the President with our votes in January,” the governor said.
He added that Tinubu had been supportive of Ekiti State during his time in office.
“I have always said that in our 30 years as a state, there has been no President who has been as fair and supportive to Ekiti as President Tinubu.
“We are extremely grateful, and we assure you that your investment in Ekiti State will not be in vain. I assure you that Ekiti will perform well and record an outstanding result in January,” Oyebanji said.
Tompolo-Backed Movement Explains Donation of 25 Vehicles
Earlier, Ekpemupolo, who was represented at the event by the movement’s Grand Patron, High Chief Kestin Pondi, said the donation of 25 vehicles was intended to strengthen the organisation’s grassroots mobilisation efforts in Ekiti and other parts of Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition, arguing that the administration needed more time to consolidate its economic reforms.
According to him, the reforms had improved the financial capacity of state governments, enabling them to meet obligations such as the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions while funding development projects.
He cited ongoing projects in Ekiti as evidence of the resources available to the state government, attributing the development to Tinubu’s economic policies.
Ekpemupolo also claimed that governors in the 19 states visited by the movement had reported improvements in their ability to meet financial obligations and execute projects.
He maintained that major economic reforms required time to produce their full benefits and argued that continuity beyond Tinubu’s first term would help consolidate the administration’s policies.
The movement’s convener further challenged other presidential aspirants to explain how their proposed programmes would improve the lives of Nigerians compared with the policies being implemented by the current administration.
He also urged APC leaders at the federal, state and local government levels to work together to ensure the effective deployment of the donated vehicles for the campaign.
Police Confirmation Awaited
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from the Ekiti State Police Command regarding Sowore’s alleged attack or reported abduction.
Further details about the circumstances of the incident, the identities of the suspected attackers and Sowore’s whereabouts remained unclear.
The development comes at a politically sensitive period as parties and political movements intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
Updates may follow as more information becomes available.