AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has reportedly been taken to a hospital following an attack by armed men suspected to be political thugs in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Friday.
The attackers were also said to have assaulted members of his entourage, including his brother, with machetes, leaving several people injured.
Sources told the media that Sowore was feared to have sustained injuries during the incident, which reportedly occurred at Tawakal’tu Restaurants and Catering Services in the state capital.
Other individuals at the restaurant were also said to have suffered machete wounds as the attack triggered panic, forcing customers and other occupants to flee.
The assailants were alleged to be supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with sources claiming that they received information about Sowore’s whereabouts from the Department of State Services (DSS).
“He has been rushed to the hospital after abduction by APC thugs acting on information provided by the DSS,” one of the sources said.
However, details surrounding how Sowore regained his freedom remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
The media could not independently verify the extent of his injuries or establish the hospital where he was reportedly taken.
The incident followed allegations by Sowore’s media team that the DSS disclosed his location to the armed men who attacked him and his campaign members.
In a statement published on his official X account, the team accused the security agency of providing the attackers with information that enabled them to locate the presidential candidate.
“We have been brutally attacked and injured by well armed government-sponsored thugs in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The @OfficialDSSNG provided these attackers with our exact location, enabling them to carry out this vicious assault. We won’t back down! We have a country to liberate!” the post read.
Earlier, the African Action Congress had raised concerns over Sowore’s whereabouts, calling on Ekiti State Governor, the Inspector-General of Police and the state Commissioner of Police to establish his location and ensure his protection.
The party warned that the relevant authorities would be held accountable should anything happen to its presidential candidate.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rex Elanu, the AAC called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack.
It further threatened to organise a mass demonstration at the Ekiti State Government House if security agencies failed to take action.
Similarly, Sowore’s campaign organisation appealed to the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, Independent National Electoral Commission and other security agencies to locate him and guarantee his safety.
The attack happened during Sowore’s visit to Ekiti State for campaign-related engagements ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
On Thursday, October 29, his defence lawyer told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the activist was in Ekiti for campaign activities. The court subsequently adjourned his ongoing cyberbullying trial until November 3, 2026.
Sowore, a journalist, human rights activist and politician, is known for his criticism of successive Nigerian administrations. He is the African Action Congress’ presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
