Omoyele Sowore, the presidential flagbearer of the African Action Congress (AAC), has strongly condemned the Nigeria Police Force over its handling of an investigation into an assault directed at him and his campaign entourage in Ado-Ekiti. Although law enforcement authorities confirmed the apprehension of 11 individuals in connection with the violence, Sowore asserted that the masterminds behind the operation remain untouched and at large.
Disclosing his position through a public statement on the social media platform X, the activist-turned-politician argued that arresting the 11 suspects confirms the assault was a premeditated assassination attempt orchestrated by state-backed thugs, contradicting initial police descriptions of the event as a minor street altercation.
What were Sowore’s specific demands regarding the investigation?
Sowore insisted that security agencies must trace the financiers and coordinators of the assault. He specifically pointed to individuals purportedly connected to the City Boys group, urging investigators to examine potential links between the attackers and top officials within the Ekiti State Government.
Furthermore, the AAC candidate challenged the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, alongside the Department of State Services (DSS), to secure and publicly release closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage captured during the incident to ensure total transparency.
“We will not accept the arrest of foot soldiers while the masterminds walk free,” Sowore remarked, emphasizing his refusal to let the matter rest with the detention of minor participants.
What is the broader context of political violence in Nigeria?
Political violence and state-sponsored thuggery have remained persistent challenges during electoral cycles in Nigeria, frequently drawing condemnation from civil society organizations and international observers. Incidents involving physical attacks on opposition figures are often met with demands for independent judicial panels and comprehensive systemic reforms to protect democratic rights and ensure public safety.
Concluding his statement, Sowore pressed for an independent, comprehensive probe and the eventual prosecution of every single person implicated by verifiable evidence, particularly those accused of bankrolling and directing the violent encounter.