Sowore’s lawyer threatens legal action over marathon exclusion
By Boye Oyeyemi
Human rights lawyer Tope Temokun has threatened legal action against the organisers of the Ikogosi Marathon following their decision to exclude activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore from the 2026 race.
The legal representative demanded the immediate retraction of the decision, describing the announcement by the organisers as deeply insensitive following a recent physical attack on the activist and his supporters in Ado-Ekiti.
Faulting the race officials in a statement issued on Saturday, Temokun criticised their reliance on security concerns and unspecified misconduct without identifying any concrete rules Sowore had purportedly violated.
The lawyer questioned the basic fairness of the decision, arguing that it was inappropriate to publicly announce the activist’s disqualification while he was still actively recovering from injuries sustained during the assault.
Temokun maintained that if physical condition was the primary concern, the organisers ought to have ordered a formal medical evaluation to assess Sowore’s fitness rather than unilaterally barring him from competition.
He further accused the organisers of demonstrating a blatant lack of procedural fairness, insisting that any allegations of misconduct should be explicitly detailed and presented to the affected party for a response.
Consequently, the lawyer demanded a full public apology, the complete withdrawal of the exclusion announcement, and the erasure of any adverse designations that could jeopardize Sowore’s entry into future marathons.
Temokun warned that failure to comply with these demands would force him to institute formal legal proceedings to challenge the disqualification and seek financial redress for damage to his client’s reputation.
