Aloy Ejimakor, lead international counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has condemned the reported silence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and major political parties following an attack on African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Ejimakor described the failure of political leaders and parties to publicly condemn the incident as a disturbing reflection of what he considers selective commitment to democracy, political tolerance and the protection of fundamental human rights.
The attack reportedly occurred on Friday, October 30, 2026, at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, where Sowore and members of his entourage were allegedly assaulted by suspected political thugs armed with guns, sticks, cudgels and bottles. The incident reportedly left Sowore and several members of his team injured.
The circumstances surrounding the incident have also generated allegations concerning the possible involvement of state-linked actors. Reports have raised questions about claims that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) tracked Sowore’s movements and that individuals allegedly connected to the Ekiti State Government facilitated or sponsored the attack. These claims remain matters requiring independent investigation and verification.
The Ekiti State Police Command reportedly characterised the incident as an altercation, a description rejected by Sowore and his associates, who maintain that the incident was a coordinated and unprovoked assault.
Reacting to the development, Ejimakor questioned why the Presidency and leading political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had not publicly condemned the incident or demanded accountability.
He argued that silence in the face of political violence should not be mistaken for neutrality, insisting that the failure of political leaders to speak out against an attack on an opposition figure could create the impression of tacit acceptance.
According to Ejimakor, when a presidential candidate is reportedly attacked under circumstances that raise questions about possible state involvement, political leaders have a moral and democratic responsibility to demand a transparent, independent investigation, the identification of those responsible and appropriate sanctions where wrongdoing is established.
The lawyer said the response to the incident had exposed what he regarded as a troubling double standard in Nigeria’s democratic culture, where political violence attracts public condemnation only when it affects individuals associated with certain political parties or influential interests.
He further argued that the reaction from the Presidency, security agencies and major political parties might have been considerably different if supporters of an opposition candidate had attacked a prominent figure associated with the ruling party.
Ejimakor also highlighted Sowore’s record of speaking out against political repression, arbitrary detention, police brutality and violations of fundamental rights, including cases involving individuals outside his political movement.
He maintained that the principles of justice, fairness and accountability must apply equally when the activist himself becomes a victim of violence, stressing that the defence of human rights should not depend on political affiliation or personal interest.
The lawyer warned that failure to confront political violence could embolden perpetrators and their alleged sponsors, placing opposition politicians, activists, journalists and ordinary citizens at greater risk as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
He called on the Presidency, the APC, PDP, ADC, NDC and other political stakeholders to publicly condemn the reported attack and demand a thorough investigation into the identities of the assailants, their possible sponsors and the allegations concerning the involvement of state security operatives.
Ejimakor stressed that political violence must never be normalised or tolerated as an instrument of electoral competition, warning that a failure to demand accountability could send a dangerous message that attacks on opposition figures are acceptable whenever the victims are considered politically inconvenient.
He maintained that democracy cannot thrive in an environment where political opponents are subjected to physical attacks while those entrusted with defending the constitutional order remain silent.
The lawyer’s position places renewed attention on the responsibility of political parties, government officials and security institutions to protect democratic participation, uphold fundamental rights and ensure that allegations of politically motivated violence are investigated impartially.
As public attention turns to the circumstances surrounding the Ado-Ekiti incident, questions remain about the identities of those responsible, whether the attack was politically motivated and whether any individuals or institutions facilitated it. Establishing the facts through a credible investigation will be essential to ensuring accountability and preventing further violence.
Ejimakor concluded that the Presidency and Nigeria’s major political parties must unequivocally condemn the attack on Sowore and demand accountability, warning that their continued silence risks creating the impression of tacit approval of political thuggery.
“Nigerians and the international community are watching,” Ejimakor declared.