'They beat me like a criminal' - Sowore speaks on Ekiti attack

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has spoken out following a brutal attack he endured in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sowore recounted how a group of thugs attacked him in broad daylight at a restaurant, beating him mercilessly. Around 20 men armed with sticks and bottles pounced on him as he met with supporters.

Sowore alleged that the attackers threatened to kill him if he returned to Ekiti. CCTV footage captured the incident, but Sowore claims the police and Department of State Services, DSS, have seized the footage to suppress the story. He sustained injuries to his face and body and was hospitalized for treatment.

Sowore accused the Ekiti State government of orchestrating the attack to stifle opposition voices in the region. The state government has not yet addressed this claim. Undeterred by the attack, Sowore vowed he would not be intimidated and would continue to champion justice and democracy in Nigeria. He stated, "I am not afraid. They can beat me, they can arrest me, but they cannot stop me from speaking the truth."

The Ekiti attack has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with Nigerians condemning the incident and demanding justice for Sowore. Many are calling for the arrest of the perpetrators.