…says action is to silence opposition voices
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Ekiti State has condemned the arrest of its candidate for Ekiti State House of Assembly Constituency 1, Mr. Ayodele Babatola, and demanded his immediate release.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday for ADC, Rt Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan said Babatola was picked up on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, around 11 a.m. by officers of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, over an alleged rape allegation.
ADC said the House of Assembly candidate was set up to silence opposition voices in the state.
The party alleged that Babatola was hurriedly arraigned using “Form K,” a remand warrant application meant to seek a magistrate’s permission to hold a suspect pending investigation.
ADC alleged that the document is being misused as a tool for indefinite detention and political intimidation.
Describing Babatola as a social activist and advocate of good governance, ADC said alleged that he has been consistently harassed by the police in Ekiti over his public criticism of government performance.
The party said the U.S.-trained former soldier is known for documenting the state of roads and other public issues through video advocacy.
ADC accused the RRS of using Form K to detain several citizens in recent months and alleged that the action was part of a broader pattern to silence opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party said such practices violate Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee personal liberty and fair hearing.
The party called on the Inspector General of Police to review the circumstances of Babatola’s arrest and order his release unless a lawful basis for detention exists. It also urged the Chief Judge of Ekiti State and the National Human Rights Commission to scrutinize the remand application and investigate the use of Form K in the state.
ADC further appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to take note of what it described as interference in the electoral process.
The party, through its spokesperson Rt. Hon. Olugboyega Aribisogan, demanded Babatola’s unconditional release and an end to what it called the misuse of police powers to undermine democracy in Ekiti State.
