Sowore Loses Cool During Live Interview, Warns Presenter Over Ekiti Attack Question

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, engaged in a heated exchange with Channels Television’s Politics Today presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, on Friday during a live interview over questions surrounding the attack on him in Ekiti State.

Sowore was reportedly attacked in Ado-Ekiti earlier on Friday and subsequently accused the Ekiti State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) of taking possession of CCTV footage believed to have captured the incident.

According to Bush Radio Academy, tension erupted during the television interview when Okinbaloye asked the activist whether he had provoked the individuals who allegedly attacked him.

The question immediately angered Sowore, who challenged the presenter for suggesting that his actions might have contributed to the incident. He described the question as condescending and accused the journalist of engaging in victim-blaming.

“I was attacked, I was beaten. You are asking me if I provoked them? That is victim blaming,” Sowore said during the heated exchange.

Okinbaloye, appearing surprised by the presidential candidate’s reaction, attempted to calm him down, explaining that his intention was to obtain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the attack.

However, Sowore maintained that the question was insensitive and inappropriate, insisting that he had appeared on the programme to discuss the alleged assault and his claims concerning the CCTV footage.

He questioned the journalistic relevance of asking whether he had provoked his attackers, particularly after accusing security agencies of allegedly withholding evidence that could help establish what happened.

The disagreement reportedly lasted for about two minutes before the interview continued, but footage of the exchange quickly circulated across social media platforms, attracting widespread public attention.

The incident has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians. While some social media users supported Sowore, arguing that the question amounted to victim-blaming, others defended Okinbaloye, maintaining that journalists have a responsibility to ask probing questions to establish the full circumstances surrounding reported incidents.

The controversy has further drawn attention to Sowore’s allegations against the security agencies and the circumstances surrounding the attack in Ado-Ekiti.