BREAKING: I have been kidnapped by armed thugs in Ekiti – Presidential candidate Sowere raises alarm

Suspected political thugs have reportedly attacked and allegedly abducted the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Sowore raised the alarm on Friday in a series of posts on his official Facebook page, claiming that the incident occurred inside a restaurant in the state capital.

“Thugs just attacked us inside a restaurant in Ado Ekiti,” the activist wrote in an earlier post.

In a subsequent update, a post on his Facebook page stated: “Armed thugs kidnap Sowore. His current location is unknown!”

Details surrounding the alleged abduction remained unclear as of the time of filing this report. Attempts to obtain confirmation from the Ekiti State Police Command were unsuccessful.

The incident comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and political groups stepping up mobilisation across the country.

It also comes a day after Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji challenged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure at least 80 per cent of registered voters’ support for President Bola Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election.

Oyebanji made the appeal on Thursday at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti during the inauguration of the state chapter of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement. Twenty-five campaign vehicles were also presented to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The movement, convened by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, is seeking to mobilise support for the president through direct engagement with voters across the country.

The governor urged APC leaders and members to intensify grassroots campaigns, engage undecided voters and discourage voter apathy ahead of the election.

He also called on campaigners to identify eligible voters with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) who did not participate in previous elections and encourage them to exercise their franchise in January.

Oyebanji said Ekiti should demonstrate its appreciation for the support it had received from the Tinubu administration by delivering a strong electoral performance for the president.

He maintained that federal government support had contributed to his administration’s development efforts, stressing the importance of continued cooperation between the federal and state governments.

Recalling the APC’s performance in the last governorship election, the governor challenged party members to translate their support at the state level into votes for Tinubu.

“This is a big challenge to us in Ekiti State. If someone from the Niger Delta can put up this structure, and as of today, they have visited 19 states and are still going to visit other states before the end of the campaign, then I challenge all of us here to support the President with our votes in January.

“I have always said that in our 30 years as a state, there has been no President who has been as fair and supportive to Ekiti as President Tinubu.

“We are extremely grateful, and we assure you that your investment in Ekiti State will not be in vain. I assure you that Ekiti will perform well and record an outstanding result in January,” Oyebanji said.

Earlier, Ekpemupolo, who was represented by the movement’s Grand Patron, High Chief Kestin Pondi, said the donation of 25 vehicles was intended to strengthen the group’s grassroots campaign in Ekiti and other parts of the country.

Pondi urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition, arguing that the administration needed more time to consolidate its economic reforms.

He said the reforms had improved the financial capacity of state governments, enabling them to pay workers’ salaries and pensions and execute development projects.

He cited ongoing projects in Ekiti as evidence of increased resources available to the state government, attributing the development to Tinubu’s economic policies.

Pondi also claimed that governors in the 19 states visited by the movement had reported improvements in their ability to meet financial obligations and implement projects.

He argued that major economic reforms required time to deliver their full benefits and called for continuity beyond Tinubu’s first term.

The movement’s convener further challenged other political aspirants to explain how their proposed programmes would improve Nigerians’ lives compared with the policies of the Tinubu administration.

He urged APC leaders at the federal, state and local government levels to work together to ensure the donated vehicles were effectively deployed for the campaign.

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