The Chief Magistrate Court sitting in the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District has ordered the remand of eleven suspected political thugs over alleged plans to disrupt the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election in Ekiti State.
The primary election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The remand order was granted by Chief Magistrate Court 1, Ado Ekiti, presided over by Magistrate Adeosun, following a Motion Ex-Parte filed pursuant to Section 264 (1) and (2) of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) alongside Order 6 Rule 4 of the Ekiti State ACJL Rules 2020.
The application was filed by the Commissioner of Police through the Legal Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Ekiti State Command, S.O. Osobu Esq., and was moved before the court by ASP Oriyomi.
According to court documents, the prosecution requested an order remanding the suspects at the Ado Ekiti Correctional Centre pending the completion of police investigations into allegations bordering on political violence, conspiracy, and alleged attempts to destabilise the APC primary election process.
The suspects were earlier paraded at the Ekiti State Police Headquarters on Friday, where security authorities claimed that some of the defendants allegedly made confessional statements during interrogation.
Police authorities further alleged that the suspects claimed they were being sponsored by a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akinlayo Davidson Kolawole.
However, the allegation remains part of ongoing investigations and has not yet been determined by the court.
The eleven defendants named in the court documents are:
Adekunle Stephen
Adepoju Adebayo
Boluwaji Ishola
Oluwatobi Adeoluwa
Akintunde Emmanuel
Adewale Makanjuola
Ibitola Babatope, popularly known as Sugaritto
Abanikanda Sikiru
Dayo Ibijowo, popularly known as Ijaya
Ajayi Dele
Adegbite Damola
After reviewing the ex-parte motion, attached Form K, and affidavits presented in support of the application, the court granted the prosecution’s request for remand.
Magistrate Adeosun subsequently ordered that all eleven defendants be remanded at the Correctional Centre in Ado Ekiti for a period of thirty days to allow police authorities conclude investigations into the matter.
The case was thereafter adjourned till June 16, 2026, for further mention.
The development has already generated political reactions within Ekiti State, especially as political activities intensify ahead of the APC primary election.
Political observers say the incident highlights growing concerns over election-related violence and the role of security agencies in maintaining order during internal party contests.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned about the dangers of political thuggery and violence in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly during party primaries where tensions often escalate among rival camps.
Authorities in Ekiti State are expected to maintain heightened security presence around political activities and election venues as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, legal experts note that the suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.
Court records indicate that the motion leading to the remand order was dated May 15, 2026, and formally filed before the Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.