Sowore had earlier alleged that the leader of those who attacked him in the Ekiti State capital, Ado-Ekiti, is on the government’s payroll.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has doubled down on his earlier claim, insisting that the Ekiti State Government is complicit in a recent attack on him and his team in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti.
He made this known on Sunday, November 1, in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page after the state government denied any link to the assault.
TheNiche had earlier reported that suspected political thugs attacked the AAC presidential candidate while he was in a restaurant in the state.
Disclosing this in a brief statement posted on his official Facebook page on Friday, Sowore wrote: “Thugs just attacked us inside a restaurant in Ado Ekiti.”
In a later interview on Channels Television, the activist further alleged that one of those who attacked him is on the “Ekiti government’s payroll”.
“The guy that led my attack is on the Ekiti govt payroll. He is not a hidden person. He is a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor. I have his name, I have his picture,” he alleged.
Reacting, the Ekiti State Government dismissed the allegations, adding that the organisers of the Ikogosi Marathon and the Ekiti State Police Command have issued official statements on the incident.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, the state noted that the circumstances surrounding Sowore’s visit and the reported altercation raise questions about the motive behind his actions.
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The government, however, said it left the determination of the facts of the matter to the appropriate authorities.
“It is particularly absurd, however, to suggest that a state widely recognised for the remarkably peaceful conduct of its recent governorship campaign and election would resort to harassing or hounding an inconsequential presidential candidate.
“The Ekiti State Government therefore dissociates itself totally from the incident and calls on the police authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, identify those responsible and ensure that they are brought to justice,” Oyebode wrote.
Responding to the statement from the state, Sowore said its denial cannot hide its complicity in the brutal attack on him.
He went on to say the Ekiti State Government knew about the brutal attack on him and his team hours before it happened.
Sowore disclosed that at approximately 7:30 a.m. that morning, the governor’s Chief Security Officer warned that his safety could not be guaranteed if he proceeded with political activities in Ekiti State.
According to him, hours later, they were violently attacked, injured, and robbed by armed thugs in broad daylight.
“Ekiti State Government’s shameless denial cannot conceal its complicity in the brutal attack on me and my team.
“That warning was no coincidence. It was the clearest pointer to who knew the attack was coming, who authorised it, and who protected those responsible. Let the Ekiti State Government begin its explanation from there!
“Why was the Governor’s Chief Security Officer warning that my safety could not be guaranteed hours before armed thugs descended on us? Who authorised that call? What did the Governor know, and when did he know it?” Sowore asked.
