The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has clashed with Channels Television’s Politics Today presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, during a live interview over questions about the recent attack on him in Ekiti State.
The exchange occurred on Friday as Sowore recounted the incident, which he said involved an attack by thugs in Ado-Ekiti.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports that the activist had earlier accused the Ekiti State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) of seizing CCTV footage allegedly capturing the attack.
However, tension rose during the interview when Okinbaloye asked Sowore whether he had provoked the individuals who attacked him.
The question angered the AAC candidate, who accused the presenter of victim-blaming and described the inquiry as condescending.
“Don’t ask me such a condescending question. I was attacked, I was beaten. You are asking me if I provoked them? That is victim blaming,” Sowore said.
Okinbaloye attempted to explain that he was seeking to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and get a fuller account of what happened.
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But Sowore maintained that the question was insensitive, arguing that he had appeared on the programme to report the attack and raise concerns over the alleged seizure of CCTV footage.
“I came here to tell you that I was attacked and the police seized the CCTV to cover it up, and you are asking me if I provoked thugs? Is that journalism?” he asked.
The confrontation lasted for about two minutes before the interview continued.
The exchange has since circulated widely on social media, attracting mixed reactions from Nigerians.
While some users supported Sowore’s response, arguing that the question amounted to victim-blaming, others defended Okinbaloye, saying the presenter was carrying out his responsibility by asking probing questions about the incident.