The Oyo State chapter of the African Action Congress has asked opposition parties in Nigeria to weigh the option of staying away from the 2027 general elections if insecurity around politics does not improve.

The call was contained in a statement released on Monday by the party’s chairman in the state, Kayode Babayomi.

Babayomi said his party is worried about the growing cases of intimidation, thuggery and attacks on political figures in the buildup to the next general polls. He argued that such incidents cast doubt on the credibility of the entire process.

He pointed to the recent experience of the party’s presidential hopeful, Omoyele Sowore, in Ekiti State. Sowore had reported an assault on his team inside a popular eatery in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, October 30, shortly after a series of engagements that included preparations for the Ikogosi Marathon.

According to reports from Sowore’s camp, a group of armed men stormed Tawakalitu Restaurant in Dalimore and attacked him and his supporters, leaving him with injuries to his leg and palm. The Ekiti State Police Command later confirmed the attack but described it as an altercation, adding that Sowore was not kidnapped. Police said 11 suspects have been arrested and are being interrogated, while the victims have been treated and discharged.

The AAC in Oyo said the development shows that political contest in the country is increasingly becoming unsafe for opposition voices.

Babayomi maintained that elections ought to be about ideas and solutions to national challenges, not about physical harm to opponents. He warned that if candidates and voters cannot move freely without fear, confidence in the ballot will collapse.

The party therefore urged democratic groups nationwide to start considering a joint decision to shun the 2027 elections should the Federal Government and security agencies fail to protect political actors, supporters and ordinary citizens.

It also demanded a transparent probe into the Ado-Ekiti incident and insisted that anyone found culpable, including alleged sponsors, should face prosecution regardless of political leaning.

Sources: Punch Newspapers, The Nation, News Central, Independent Nigeria, News Point Nigeria, SaharaReporters via Pami Blog.