I am deeply alarmed by reports of the alleged abduction of Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), by unidentified armed men in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Reports indicate that Sowore was attacked alongside some of his supporters by suspected political thugs while they were reportedly inside a restaurant. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of political actors, the growing threat of political violence and the protection of democratic participation in Nigeria.
According to reports published on Friday, October 30, 2026, Sowore raised the alarm through posts on his official Facebook page, alleging that armed men had attacked his group and subsequently abducted him. In a subsequent update, he reportedly disclosed that his whereabouts were unknown.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, and the alleged abduction requires urgent independent verification. Nevertheless, the seriousness of these allegations demands immediate attention from the relevant security authorities.
I therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police to urgently deploy all necessary security resources to establish the circumstances of the attack, determine Sowore's whereabouts, secure his immediate release if he is being held against his will, and ensure the safety of everyone affected by the incident.
The Nigeria Police Force must not treat this matter as an ordinary security complaint. The possibility of a politically motivated attack on a presidential candidate and his supporters is a serious threat to democratic participation and the rule of law.
I also urge the Department of State Services (DSS), popularly known as the State Security Service (SSS), to intervene within its statutory responsibilities, collaborate with the police and ensure that every individual connected to this incident is identified and brought to justice.
It is important to emphasise that Sowore has consistently pursued his political and ideological convictions through activism, public engagement and political participation. He has never needed to resort to violence in his struggle for what he believes should be a better Nigeria.
However, the principle remains clear: No individual or group has a monopoly on violence. This is precisely why the government must prevent political disagreements from degenerating into intimidation, physical attacks or lawlessness. Nobody should be forced to abandon their political convictions or legitimate participation in the democratic process because of threats to their personal safety.
Nigeria cannot claim to be strengthening its democracy while political actors and their supporters remain vulnerable to attacks by armed individuals. Political differences should be settled through dialogue, persuasion, peaceful competition and the ballot box, not through intimidation and violence.
The authorities must act swiftly, transparently and decisively. There must be no room for political interference, selective justice or attempts to downplay the seriousness of this incident.
The safety of Omoyele Sowore and his supporters must be treated as an immediate priority. Nigerians deserve to know what happened, who was responsible and what concrete measures are being taken to prevent a recurrence.
Democracy must never become a licence for political violence. The authorities must act now.
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