The Ekiti State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has accused security operatives of political intimidation following the arrest and detention of its House of Assembly candidate, Mr. Ayodele Babatola, over alleged rape allegations.

Speaking during a press conference held on Tuesday at the Amb. Dare Bejide Campaign Office in Ado-Ekiti, the party described the arrest as unlawful, politically motivated, and a dangerous abuse of police powers capable of undermining democracy in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the party, former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olugboyega Aribisogan, alleged that Babatola, the ADC candidate for Ekiti State House of Assembly Constituency 1, was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) without a valid warrant and subsequently remanded through the use of what the party termed the “controversial Form K.”

According to the ADC, Form K — a legal instrument used by the police to seek a magistrate’s approval for the remand of suspects pending investigation — has increasingly become a tool for intimidation and arbitrary detention in Ekiti State.

“The weaponization of Form K is a direct assault on constitutional rights and democratic values,” Aribisogan said. “It was never designed to become an instrument for silencing opposition voices or keeping political actors out of circulation during sensitive electoral periods.”

The party maintained that Babatola, described as a social activist and outspoken critic of government policies in the state, had consistently faced harassment due to his advocacy on issues of governance and infrastructure.

The ADC further claimed that the rape allegation against the candidate was suspicious and politically orchestrated, insisting that Babatola had no known criminal record and was widely recognized for his activism and public commentary on governance in Ekiti State.

While stressing that it does not condone criminality, the party said any genuine allegation against its candidate should be transparently investigated and prosecuted within the confines of the law.

“What we reject is the misuse of security institutions to intimidate opposition members because of their political beliefs,” the party stated.

The opposition party called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police to immediately review the circumstances surrounding Babatola’s arrest and order his release if no lawful basis exists for his continued detention.

It also appealed to the Ekiti State judiciary to critically examine the remand application and ensure that due process is not compromised by political interests.

In addition, the party urged the National Human Rights Commission to investigate what it described as a growing pattern of unlawful detentions through the use of Form K in the state.

The ADC further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to monitor developments closely and ensure that the electoral process in Ekiti is not undermined by intimidation or suppression of opposition figures.

The party warned that continued abuse of police powers could erode public trust in democratic institutions and create fear among citizens participating in the political process.

“If a political candidate can be arrested and detained under questionable circumstances today, then ordinary citizens may become even more vulnerable tomorrow,” the statement added.

The press conference ended with a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Ayodele Babatola and a broader call for accountability in the conduct of security agencies in Ekiti State.