The African Action Congress (AAC) has accused individuals allegedly linked to President Bola Tinubu’s City Boy Movement in Ekiti State of participating in the attack on its presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his entourage.
The incident reportedly happened on Friday, October 30, shortly after Sowore and his team left Midas FM 90.5 in Ado-Ekiti, where they had attended a radio interview.
In a statement issued by the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Lijofi Victor, the AAC Southwest claimed that some of the suspected attackers were recognised by eyewitnesses as wearing face caps carrying the name and logo of the City Boy Movement.
The party alleged that Sowore, its National Chairman, Sam Ajeigbe, and other members of the team were attacked with dangerous weapons, including machetes, axes, knives and firearms. Their attackers were also accused of taking away mobile phones, cash, power banks and other personal belongings.
The AAC further claimed that a video circulating on social media showed a person believed to be an executive member of the City Boy Movement in Ekiti at the scene of the incident. It also linked the individual to Comrade Sunday Asefon, a former NANS president who currently serves as a presidential aide on student engagement.
The party referenced the past political disagreement between Asefon and Sowore, particularly the controversy surrounding an alleged N40 million payment and the suspension of a student protest in 2021. However, these allegations formed part of the party’s claims and have not been independently established as evidence of involvement in the attack.
The opposition party also questioned why CCTV recordings from Tawakalitu Restaurant, located in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, where the attack reportedly took place, had not been made public.
Sowore had earlier accused police officers and DSS operatives of removing the restaurant’s CCTV equipment and taking it to the Government House before returning it without the footage of the incident. He also criticised the handling of the investigation and called for an independent inquiry.
The AAC expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the Ekiti State Police Command, insisting that the CCTV recordings should be released to establish what actually happened and identify those responsible.
It also called for everyone captured in videos and photographs connected to the incident to be investigated, regardless of their political affiliations. The party further demanded protection for victims and witnesses willing to provide information.
The AAC specifically challenged Governor Biodun Oyebanji to explain the alleged links between people associated with the City Boy Movement and the attack. It also demanded clarification over the activities of Sola Adenijo, popularly known as Solar, who has been identified in a viral video as one of the alleged attackers.
The party questioned the governor over what it described as a prior warning from his Chief Security Officer and demanded explanations about the state’s relationship with Adenijo.
The AAC maintained that the attack should not be treated as an ordinary political disagreement, warning that violence against opposition figures threatens democratic participation.
It insisted that only a transparent and independent investigation, backed by the release of the CCTV footage, would help establish the facts and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable.
