The African Action Congress (AAC) has raised the alarm over what it described as a brutal attack on its presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, during the June 12 Democracy Day protest in Abuja. The protest, organized by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society groups across the country, took place last Friday.
Details of the Incident
According to the AAC, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) sprayed an unknown aerosol-based chemical directly into Sowore's face during the peaceful demonstration. This caused him to collapse and temporarily lose consciousness. The party noted that this disturbing incident raises serious concerns about the growing use of violent and repressive tactics against opposition voices in Nigeria.
Party's Statement
A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of AAC, Rex Elanu, highlighted that the party has observed a disturbing pattern of actions directed at Sowore since 2016. The party called on the international community and democratic governments around the world to take note and act swiftly to prevent further violence against Sowore.
Elanu said: “We are reminded of the tragic case of Chuba Okadigbo, a prominent critic of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who died days after being exposed to tear gas at an opposition rally in Kano in 2003. While the circumstances surrounding his death remain a subject of public controversy, the incident stands as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by opposition figures in an atmosphere of political intolerance.”
The statement further condemned what it called Nigeria’s return to an era in which critics of those in power are intimidated, brutalised, persecuted, or eliminated.
Court Issues Bench Warrant for Sowore's Arrest
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Sowore on Monday, following his failure to appear in court as a defendant in the ongoing alleged criminal defamation suit brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS). Justice Mohammed Garba Umar ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and brought before him on the next adjourned date, June 22, 2026, for a ruling on the application he filed for recusal.
Background of the Case
The judge had granted Sowore bail last December on self-recognition. At that time, he declined a request by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, to issue an arrest warrant after Sowore and his lawyer failed to appear in court for trial. However, at the resumption of the trial on Monday, neither Sowore nor his lawyer was present in court. This prompted the prosecution to apply for a revocation of the bail and the issuance of a bench warrant, describing Sowore's absence as “delay tactics.”
The DSS had filed a five-count charge against Sowore over social media posts in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.” Efforts by the secret police to make him take down the post were rebuffed by the politician, who insisted that it was within his fundamental human right to freedom of speech to post as he liked. This prompted the DSS to file criminal defamation charges against him.
Last month, the trial judge rejected Sowore’s “no-case submission,” ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him. In response, Sowore and his legal team accused the judge of bias and requested that he recuse himself.
