Omoyele Sowore was taken to hospital following an incident at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, 30 October, with the African Action Congress presidential candidate alleging an armed attack and police denying an earlier report that he had been kidnapped.
The Ekiti State Police Command said officers responded to a distress call, rescued Sowore and took him to the Police Hospital in the state capital. Sowore rejected its description of the incident as an altercation and accused the authorities of playing down the violence.
An initial message on his official X account said armed men had taken him away and that his location was unknown. Subsequent reporting placed him in hospital, while police confirmed that he was receiving treatment.
The incident occurred at a restaurant around the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti during Sowore’s visit to the state for campaign activities ahead of the 2027 election. Anadolu identified the establishment as Tawakalitu Restaurants and Catering Services.
In its initial account, Anadolu reported damage to furniture and vehicles at the premises. At that stage, the agency said it had not received a response from the police spokesperson to its requests for comment.
The command later issued a statement through its spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, disputing the kidnapping account. It said preliminary information pointed to a confrontation with some individuals at the restaurant before officers were alerted.
Police described Sowore’s injury as minor. The command said Commissioner of Police Falade Adegoroye Michael had ordered an investigation to establish the circumstances, identify those involved and bring anyone found culpable to justice.
Sowore challenged both the account of how the incident began and the description of the injuries. In a later post reported by Premium Times, he insisted that he and his team had been attacked rather than involved in an altercation.
The politician alleged that the assailants were government-sponsored and had received tracking or operational assistance from the Department of State Services. Those allegations have not been independently established and must be distinguished from the confirmed police account that he was taken for treatment.
TheCable reported that Sowore shared photographs of himself and an aide on hospital beds. It said he linked the incident to events shortly after an interview at Midas FM 90.5 in Ado-Ekiti and alleged that security operatives had followed his team since its arrival the previous day.
The DSS had not issued a response to the allegations at the time of TheCable’s report. The material reviewed did not establish the identity or political affiliation of the people responsible.
The AAC also called for action. In a statement signed by national publicity secretary Rex Elanu, the party urged the governor, Inspector-General of Police and state police commissioner to ensure Sowore’s safety and arrest and prosecute those responsible.
Sowore is a human rights campaigner and publisher of SaharaReporters. He is contesting the presidency on the AAC platform and has frequently challenged security agencies over protests, detention and restrictions on political activity.
The police urged residents to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified claims. Its announced investigation is intended to determine how the restaurant incident unfolded and who was involved; no findings were disclosed in the statement.
Photograph: Peoples Gazette, 30 October 2026.
