Omoyele Sowore‘s reported abduction in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has raised fresh concerns after the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate announced that he and members of his team had been attacked inside a restaurant. The incident, reported on Friday, October 30, 2026, was followed by an alert from his campaign that his whereabouts had become unknown.
The development has attracted attention because it involves a presidential candidate preparing for the 2027 general election and comes amid increasing political activities across the country.
Sowore Reports Attack Inside Ado-Ekiti Restaurant
Sowore first raised the alarm through a post on his official Facebook page on Friday, disclosing that suspected political thugs had attacked him and his team while they were inside a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti.
In his brief account of the incident, the activist wrote: “Thugs just attacked us inside a restaurant in Ado Ekiti.”
The statement immediately drew attention to the safety of the AAC candidate and those accompanying him.
Further reports identified the establishment as Tawakalitu Restaurants and Catering Services in Ado-Ekiti. Accounts of the incident described an intrusion by armed men, with reports of damage to furniture and vehicles around the premises.
However, the identities of the individuals involved and the circumstances surrounding the confrontation have not been independently established.
AAC Raises Alarm Over Sowore’s Reported Abduction
The situation took a more serious turn after a subsequent message from Sowore raised an abduction alarm.
A message circulated through his social media accounts stated: “Armed thugs kidnap Sowore. His current location is unknown!“
The message suggested that the incident had escalated beyond the initial confrontation at the restaurant, prompting concerns about the candidate’s whereabouts.
The Sowore/Magashi 2027 Presidential Campaign subsequently reacted through its spokesperson, Abdulkareem Musa, raising the alarm over the reported attack and demanding urgent attention from security authorities.
The campaign described the incident as unacceptable and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction.
In its statement, the campaign stressed that political disagreements should not result in violence against candidates or citizens participating in democratic activities.
It stated: “Politics and elections are not warfare. No political actor or party has the right to engage violence, intimidation or attacks on citizens exercising their democratic rights.”The campaign also called for immediate security measures to establish Sowore’s whereabouts and address the reported incident.
Although the campaign raised suspicions about the attackers’ political affiliations, no independently established evidence has identified those responsible or confirmed that they acted on behalf of any political party.
Why Sowore Was in Ekiti State
The AAC presidential candidate was in Ekiti as part of his political activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
His presence in the state had already become public knowledge following proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, October 29.
Sowore was absent when his ongoing cyberbullying case came up before Justice Mohammed Umar. His defence counsel, T. O. Etonyeaku, informed the court that he had travelled to Ekiti State for his presidential campaign.
The lawyer also requested an adjournment, while the prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, eventually did not oppose the application.
The judge subsequently adjourned the proceedings until November 3, 2026, for the adoption of written addresses and continuation of the defence.
The case was instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over social media publications in which Sowore criticised President Bola Tinubu.
His campaign activities in Ekiti were therefore already underway before the reported confrontation at the restaurant.
Police Response and Outstanding Questions
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, confirmation from the Ekiti State Police Command remained outstanding in the reports available at the time of publication.
There was also no independently established account detailing how many people were involved, whether other members of Sowore’s team were taken away or the precise circumstances surrounding his reported removal from the restaurant.
The alleged political affiliations of the attackers also remain unestablished.
These outstanding questions make an official investigation particularly important, especially given the seriousness of an allegation involving the reported abduction of a presidential candidate.
The incident also raises broader concerns about the safety of political candidates, campaign supporters and other participants as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
For the AAC, the immediate priority remains establishing what happened to its presidential candidate and ensuring his safety.
Until security authorities provide an account of the incident, the circumstances surrounding Sowore’s reported abduction remain unresolved.
