Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has accused officers of the Nigeria Police Force of firing tear gas at him and his supporters while they were travelling to Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, ahead of the state's governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15. Sowore, who has been a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu's administration, made the allegation in a post on his verified X account, describing the attack as an unprovoked attempt to intimidate political actors and undermine the democratic process.
According to Sowore, the incident occurred as his convoy approached Osogbo, the state capital. He claimed that his team initially had a "respectful and peaceful conversation" with the police officers stationed along the route. However, after the group resumed their journey, the officers "secretly fired tear gas" at them. "Despite our having a respectful and peaceful conversation with them, they secretly fired tear gas at us as we continued on our journey," Sowore wrote.
Despite the alleged attack, Sowore said the intimidation failed. "We pushed through, arrived in Oshogbo and triumphed," he stated. He condemned the conduct of the police, insisting that officers deployed for the election should be protecting citizens and safeguarding the democratic process, not attacking peaceful political actors. "The police should be protecting citizens and safeguarding the democratic process, not attacking peaceful political actors," Sowore wrote.
The allegation comes at a time of heightened political tension in Osun State, where the governorship election has been marked by rising violence and allegations of police harassment and intimidation of opposition supporters. The Imole Campaign Council, the re-election vehicle of Governor Ademola Adeleke, had earlier accused the police of targeting its members, including the arrest of Commissioner for Environment Mayowa Adejoorin and the midnight detention of the governor's media aide, Alalade Bukola Félix. The police have also been accused of partisanship, with the Osun State Police Command coming under fire for its handling of a viral video in which Senator Francis Fadahunsi was allegedly heard calling for the killing of Accord Party members.
Sowore's accusation adds a new dimension to the growing concerns over the conduct of security agencies in the run-up to the election. The Nigeria Police Force and the Osun State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement regarding the alleged incident at the time of filing this report. However, the allegation has drawn condemnation from civil society groups and political observers, who have warned that the use of tear gas against peaceful political actors could further erode public confidence in the electoral process.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party seeking re-election against a strong challenge from the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and other contenders. The election has been marked by rising tensions, with allegations of political violence, police harassment and intimidation of opposition supporters on both sides. Sowore's allegation of police tear-gassing is likely to deepen concerns about the impartiality of security agencies and their willingness to protect the rights of all political actors, regardless of their affiliation.
For Sowore, the alleged attack is the latest in a series of confrontations with security agencies. In June 2026, he reportedly collapsed during a Democracy Day protest in Abuja after security operatives allegedly fired tear gas at demonstrators in front of the Force Headquarters. The AAC presidential candidate has also been a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration, accusing the government of secretly paying fuel subsidies and benefiting the rich through waivers and customs.
The alleged tear-gassing of Sowore and his supporters is a stark reminder of the challenges facing Nigeria's democracy, where political actors and citizens alike are increasingly vulnerable to state-sanctioned violence and intimidation. As Osun State prepares for Saturday's election, the incident has raised urgent questions about the ability of security agencies to conduct themselves professionally and impartially, and about the willingness of the government to protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of their political beliefs.
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