FRI OCT 30 2026-theGBJournal| Concerns over political violence and the safety of opposition figures in Nigeria have intensified following reports that Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2027 elections, was attacked and allegedly abducted by armed men in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Amnesty International has called for an immediate investigation into the incident and demanded that the activist’s whereabouts be established, saying his location was unknown following the reported attack on Friday, October 30.
In a statement, the international human rights organisation said it was deeply concerned by the reported attack and abduction of Sowore and members of his campaign team at approximately 1pm.
The organisation called on the Nigerian authorities to establish his whereabouts urgently and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The alarm followed a series of posts on Sowore’s official X account in which he alleged that he and members of his entourage were attacked shortly after he concluded an interview at MIDAS FM 90.5 in Ado-Ekiti.
Sowore alleged that the attackers were linked to the Ekiti State Government House and accused operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) of providing them with tracking and operational support.
He also claimed that DSS operatives had trailed and harassed his team since their arrival in the state on Thursday, including allegedly threatening the manager of a restaurant where they had earlier eaten.
According to his account, the attack occurred shortly after his radio interview, when armed men allegedly descended on his entourage.
However, there has been no independent verification of the circumstances of the reported attack or Sowore’s current whereabouts. His claims concerning the involvement of government officials and the DSS have also not been independently established.
As of the time of this report, there was no publicly available confirmation from the Ekiti State Government, the police or the DSS addressing the allegations.
The African Action Congress had earlier raised the alarm over the incident, describing the situation as a serious security concern and demanding urgent intervention by security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported attack and ensure the safety of its presidential candidate.
The development comes at a politically sensitive moment, with political parties and their candidates beginning to intensify activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sowore’s campaign activities in Ekiti had been cited by his lawyers as the reason for his absence from proceedings in his ongoing cyberbullying trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday. The court subsequently adjourned the case until November 3.
The activist, who is also the publisher of SaharaReporters, has remained a prominent critic of successive Nigerian administrations and has frequently clashed with security agencies over protests, political activism and his public statements.
The latest incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of the security environment surrounding opposition politicians and the ability of political actors to campaign without intimidation or violence.
It also raises questions about the responsibilities of security agencies in protecting political candidates, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle.
For Amnesty International, the immediate priority is establishing Sowore’s whereabouts and ensuring his safety.
The circumstances of the reported incident, the identity of those involved and whether public officials or security personnel played any role remain matters requiring urgent and credible investigation.
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