AAC Alleges Assassination Attempt On Sowore, Says Police Sprayed Chemical In His Face

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

The African Action Congress has raised an urgent alarm over what it describes as an assassination attempt on its presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, following an incident during the June 12 Democracy Day protest in Abuja. In a statement issued on June 15, 2026, the opposition party accused operatives of the Nigeria Police Force of spraying an “unknown aerosol‑based chemical” directly into Sowore’s face, causing him to collapse and temporarily lose consciousness. The AAC further alleged that the attack was part of a sustained campaign of persecution against the activist, warning that opposition voices and government critics are increasingly being subjected to intimidation and repression under the Tinubu administration.

The party described the incident as a “brutal attack” that occurred during a peaceful demonstration organised by the Take It Back Movement and other civil society groups. According to the AAC, the protest was heading towards Eagle Square in Abuja to demand action on worsening insecurity, the release of abducted school children, and improved governance when police operatives stationed around the area fired teargas canisters at close range. Sowore, who was at the forefront of the march, inhaled the substance, began gasping for air, and collapsed. Videos circulating on social media show the activist lying on the ground while being helped by fellow protesters, some of whom shouted, “The Nigeria Police want to kill Sowore.” Despite the police action, the demonstrators later regrouped and continued their march, vowing not to be deterred.

The AAC drew a chilling parallel with a past political incident, referencing the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, who died days after being exposed to tear gas at an opposition rally in Kano in 2003. “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,” the party said, adding that although the circumstances surrounding his death remain controversial, the incident stands as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by opposition figures in an atmosphere of political intolerance.

The AAC also catalogued a long history of alleged attacks against Sowore, including the invasion of a Federal High Court courtroom by the Department of State Services (DSS), the breaking of his nose during an assault in 2021, and an incident in which a police officer shot him in the thigh with a riot gun. The party further alleged that Sowore’s younger brother was killed under “suspicious” circumstances near Benin City. “Having failed to incapacitate Sowore through a series of physical attacks, the government has increasingly resorted to lawfare, including frivolous prosecutions, politically motivated lawsuits, travel restrictions, and other forms of harassment,” the statement read.

Sowore himself, in a separate interview with News Central television on Friday, confirmed the chemical exposure. “The Nigeria Police Force, upon arriving close to the Presidential Villa, which was one of our destinations, pumped an unknown chemical substance through my nostril and I collapsed,” he said. “That’s the last I saw of myself. And I was revived by our colleagues and we decided that the struggle cannot be stopped even by chemical attacks.” The activist, who is also a 2027 presidential candidate, accused the Tinubu regime of attempting “to silence, destroy, and crush all opposition through fear and force,” and vowed to continue his demonstrations.

International human rights organisations have condemned the police action. Amnesty International described it as a “reckless attack on peaceful protesters” and demanded an investigation. “The deliberate targeting of Sowore must be investigated. Such targeting of activists solely for exercising freedom of assembly is unlawful and shows utter disregard for the rule of law,” the group said. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) also called for an independent probe, describing the reported targeting of peaceful demonstrators as “unacceptable and patently unlawful.” At the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement on the incident.

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