African Action Congress Presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has called on World Athletics to sanction the organisers of the Ikogosi Marathon in Ekiti State after they barred him from participating in the race, alleging they were complicit in attacks on him and members of his team.
Sowore also demanded international sanctions against Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the organisers, led by Makinde Araoye, while calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
His demand followed a statement by the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative announcing his exclusion from the 17.5-kilometre race scheduled for Saturday, October 31, 2026, on grounds of security and what it described as documented conduct.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Sowore alleged that the attacks were part of an assassination plot and urged World Athletics to blacklist the organisers from organising or participating in sporting events.
“Sporting events must never become hunting grounds for political thugs, government-sponsored violence, intimidation, or assassination,” he said.
He maintained that runners and other participants should be guaranteed safety, regardless of their political beliefs or affiliations.
Sowore said he would pursue legal action and other lawful measures against the organisers and the Ekiti State Government, adding that an independent investigation was necessary to establish their alleged roles.
The organisers, however, maintained that they did not exclude him for political reasons.
In their statement dated October 31, the Ikogosi Marathon organisers said Sowore registered for the event but was neither issued a race bib number nor cleared to participate.
“Consequently, the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative has decided to deny Mr. Omoyele Sowore participation in the 2026 Ikogosi 17.5km Race scheduled for Saturday, 31 October 2026. His eligibility for future events will be subject to further review in accordance with our participation standards and security considerations,” the statement read.
The initiative said it respected individual political rights but would not permit activities that compromised participants’ safety or the event’s neutrality and sporting objectives.
“This decision is based on documented conduct and security considerations, not Mr. Sowore’s political affiliation, beliefs, or aspirations,” it added.
The organisers said the race remained open to participants from all backgrounds who complied with its rules and upheld peaceful sporting engagement.
The dispute followed an incident at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, during which Sowore sustained injuries and was taken to the Police Hospital for treatment.
Sowore alleged that his attackers came from the Ekiti State Government House and received tracking and operational support from the Department of State Services.
“Those who brutally attacked us in Ado-Ekiti today came from the Government House. They are well known, and they were provided with tracking and operational support by the DSS,” he alleged.
He also accused DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, of pressuring media organisations to downplay the incident and alleged that police and DSS operatives took CCTV footage from the restaurant to conceal evidence.
Those allegations have not been independently verified.
The Ekiti State Police Command, however, denied reports that Sowore was kidnapped, saying officers responded to information about an altercation at a restaurant.
“Upon receiving the report, police operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene and successfully rescued him. He, however, sustained a minor injury and is currently receiving medical attention at the Police Hospital, Ado-Ekiti,” the command’s spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, said.
Sowore rejected that description, insisting, “There was no altercation! We were attacked.”
Abutu said the Commissioner of Police had ordered an investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident, identify those involved and bring anyone found culpable to justice.
The material available for this report contains no responses from the Ekiti State Government, Ajayi or the DSS to Sowore’s specific allegations of involvement in the attack, media interference or suppression of evidence. The organisers’ statement addressed his exclusion from the race, rather than those allegations.
