African Action Congress AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has demanded global sanctions against Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the leadership of the Ikogosi Marathon following an alleged physical assault on him and his campaign entourage.
Sowore made this call through a public statement issued via his official social media channel on X, formerly Twitter, where he labeled the incident a premeditated and lethal assassination plot orchestrated against his person.
What are the specific demands made by Sowore?
The prominent activist and politician specifically urged World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field sports, to blacklist the organizers. He wants them barred from hosting, organizing, or participating in any domestic and international athletic competitions moving forward.
Furthermore, Sowore directly implicated the Ekiti State Government and the event planners, headed by Makinde Araoye, alleging their active involvement or complicity in facilitating the violent confrontation. He insisted that an independent, transparent panel must be constituted to investigate their respective roles in the breach of security.
In his statement, Sowore emphasized that athletic platforms should serve as avenues for unity rather than danger zones, noting, "Sporting events must never become hunting grounds for political thugs, government-sponsored violence, intimidation, or assassination."
What legal steps are next?
Addressing the way forward, the opposition figure affirmed his commitment to pursuing comprehensive legal avenues across both domestic and international jurisdictions to ensure justice is served.
He maintained that accountability must be enforced rigorously, stressing that no individual, regardless of their political office or government affiliations, should be shielded from the consequences of orchestrating violence against citizens.