The Ekiti State Police Command has defended the arrest and prosecution of a candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ayodele Babatola, insisting that the action was lawful and based strictly on a reported criminal complaint, not political considerations.
The clarification comes amid social media allegations that the police acted in collaboration with the Ekiti State Government to target Babatola over political reasons, following his arrest on a rape allegation.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abutu Sunday, the Command said the case originated on May 25, 2026, at about 1:00 a.m., when a 30-year-old woman, Bukola Oluwaseun, reported at the Oke-Ila Divisional Police Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti that she had been raped and assaulted by Babatola.
According to the police, the incident was said to have occurred the previous night, May 24, 2026, at KIIBAT Hotel, located along Petim Estate in the Adebayo area of Ado-Ekiti. Officers reportedly observed visible injuries on the complainant at the time she lodged the report.
Oluwaseun told investigators that she met Babatola on social media about three months earlier while he was abroad. She said they later agreed to meet in person at the Captain Cook area of Ado-Ekiti after his return to Nigeria.
She alleged that Babatola drove her to the hotel under the pretext of having a conversation but subsequently raped her without consent, assaulted her when she resisted, and later abandoned her at the hotel before blocking all communication channels.
The police stated that Babatola was invited for questioning and the case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
During interrogation, Babatola reportedly claimed he became angry when the complainant demanded payment before sex. He also denied penetration but admitted to leaving her at the hotel and cutting off contact.
The Command further disclosed that a medical examination conducted on the complainant confirmed evidence of penetration. Following the conclusion of investigations, Babatola was charged to court and remanded at the Correctional Service Centre in Ado-Ekiti.
SP Abutu Sunday urged members of the public to disregard claims of political interference or unlawful arrest, stressing that the matter arose from a formal complaint that was duly investigated in line with due process. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to professionalism, fairness, human rights, and the rule of law.
However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ekiti State has strongly condemned Babatola’s arrest and detention, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti, the party’s spokesperson, Rt. Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, alleged that Babatola, who is the party’s candidate for Ekiti State House of Assembly Constituency 1, was arrested on May 26, 2026, at about 11:00 a.m. by officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
The ADC claimed the arrest was politically motivated, alleging that Babatola had been targeted for his criticism of government performance and his activism on governance issues.
The party further alleged that Babatola was hurriedly arraigned using a “Form K” remand application, which it claimed was being misused to detain opposition figures indefinitely under the guise of investigation.
Describing Babatola as a social activist and former U.S.-trained soldier, the ADC said he had consistently used video documentation to highlight poor infrastructure and governance challenges in the state.
The party accused security agencies of a broader pattern of intimidation against opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that such actions violate constitutional provisions on personal liberty and fair hearing.
The ADC called on the Inspector-General of Police to review the circumstances of the arrest, urged the Chief Judge of Ekiti State and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the use of remand procedures, and appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take note of what it described as growing interference in the electoral process.
It also demanded Babatola’s immediate release unless a clear and lawful basis for continued detention is established.
