The Ekiti State Police Command has said Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, was not kidnapped. It says he was hurt in a scuffle at a restaurant in Ado Ekiti.
The command said on Friday that Sowore is now getting treatment at the Police Hospital in the state capital. It described his injury as minor.
The clarification followed a post on Sowore’s X account. The post claimed armed thugs had abducted him and that nobody knew where he was. It also said government-backed attackers had badly injured him and his team. It further accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of passing his location to the attackers.
Police spokesman Sunday Abutu rejected the kidnapping claim. He said officers got a tip-off that Sowore was in a dispute with some people at the restaurant. Operatives then rushed there and pulled him out, he added.
Abutu urged the public to ignore what he called a misleading narrative. He also warned people against sharing unverified claims that could cause panic.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Michael Falade has ordered a discreet investigation. It will find out what happened and identify everyone involved. Anyone found responsible will face justice, the command said.
Sowore, however, has challenged the police version of events. A related Punch headline says he denies that any altercation took place.
