The African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has recounted how he was assaulted by about 20 suspected thugs in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Sowore spoke on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he described how the attackers descended on him while he was at a restaurant meeting some of his supporters.

He said the assailants were armed with sticks and bottles and threatened to kill him if he returned to the state.

“They beat me like a criminal. They came from nowhere, about 20 of them, armed with sticks and bottles. They said they will kill me if I come to Ekiti again,” he said.

The AAC chieftain stated that the incident was captured by CCTV cameras but claimed that the security agents had taken possession of the footage to suppress evidence of the attack.

He added that he sustained injuries to his face and other parts of his body and was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.

Despite the assault, the activist vowed not to abandon his advocacy for justice and democracy, insisting that the incident would not silence him.

“I am not afraid. They can beat me, they can arrest me, but they cannot stop me from speaking the truth,” he added.

The Ekiti State Police Command also confirmed that Sowore sustained injuries during an altercation with some individuals at a restaurant in the state.

Meanwhile, the interview witnessed a heated exchange between Sowore and the programme’s presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, after the latter asked whether the activist had provoked the people who allegedly attacked him.

The question angered Sowore, who accused the presenter of engaging in victim-blaming.

“Don’t ask me such a condescending question. I was attacked, I was beaten. You are asking me if I provoked them? That is victim blaming,” he said.

Okinbaloye attempted to calm the AAC candidate, explaining that he was only seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

However, Sowore maintained that the question was insensitive, questioning the approach of mainstream media organisations to reporting the attack.

“I came here to tell you that I was attacked and the police seized the CCTV to cover it up, and you are asking me if I provoked thugs? Is that journalism?” he asked.

The exchange lasted for about two minutes and subsequently attracted reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing differing opinions over the confrontation.