office of Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has strongly denied allegations linking the senator to an incident in Auchi, which was reported by Sahara Reporters.
Gatekeepers News reports that a video showing the moment the Convener of the Edo North Unity Forum Worldwide, Comrade Okhai Okhani, was assaulted by a group of armed vigilantes emerged on social media. The incident occurred during an award ceremony organised by the Forum on Saturday morning in Auchi, Edo State.
In a statement signed by Victor Oshioke, Chief of Staff to Senator Oshiomhole, the senator’s office described the report as “wild and baseless insinuations” and “defamatory.”
According to the statement, the incident in question involved a disagreement over video recording, and there is no evidence to link Senator Oshiomhole to the incident. The senator’s office claimed that Oshiomhole was in Gombe State attending a wedding ceremony at the time of the incident and had no knowledge of the event in Auchi.
The statement further alleged that the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, is orchestrating a campaign of character assassination against Senator Oshiomhole due to their political differences.
The senator’s office demanded that Sahara Reporters provide verifiable evidence of Oshiomhole’s alleged involvement in the incident or retract the story with an apology within seven days.
It added that failure to comply with the demand may lead to legal proceedings against Sahara Reporters and its publisher for defamation of character.
The senator’s office also threatened to pursue criminal action for making false accusations with intent to expose Senator Oshiomhole to harm.
Read the full statement below:
*Setting the Record Straight: Senator Oshiomhole Has No Link to the Alleged Auchi Incident July 29, 2025*
Our attention has been drawn to a trending post on social media, which has now been republished by Sahara Reporters under the sensational headline: “Edo Group Leader Brutally Attacked, Assaulted by Armed Vigilantes With Alleged Link to Senator Oshiomhole.”
Ordinarily, we would not dignify such wild and baseless insinuations with a response. However, the fact that a narrative mischievously concocted by a Facebook user operating under an alias has found its way into a widely read online news platform like Sahara Reporters is deeply concerning. It becomes imperative to set the record straight, lest our silence be misinterpreted as acceptance of these unfounded allegations.
To begin with, the article offers no evidence, factual or circumstantial, linking Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole to the incident in question. It is the height of irresponsible journalism for Sahara Reporters to amplify an unverified social media post without asking the basic question: What is the nature of the alleged link to Senator Oshiomhole?
A cursory review of the video clip circulating online reveals the nature of the altercation: a disagreement allegedly over video recording. At no point in the footage is Senator Oshiomhole’s name mentioned, nor is there any suggestion of his involvement. Also, there is no indication in the entire story that anyone was interviewed or quoted to have alluded to Senator Oshiomhole’s connection to what happened.
For the record, neither Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole nor his office was aware of any event taking place in Auchi on Saturday, July 26, 2025. The Senator was in Gombe State at the time, attending a wedding ceremony. He was not invited to the event in Auchi, had no knowledge of its organization, and has no dealings or issues with Mr. Okhai Okhani, the purported organiser. The suggestion that Senator Oshiomhole was linked in any way to those who disrupted the Auchi event is not only false, it is, quite frankly, ridiculous, malicious and defamatory.
Senator Oshiomhole remains committed to the peace, progress, and development of Edo North. He believes in dialogue, constructive engagement, and lawful conduct. It is illogical and insulting to suggest that he would stoop so low as to orchestrate violence against any of his constituents or citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is increasingly becoming obvious that the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore is deploying his online platform to orchestrate a campaign of character assassination against Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole due to their political differences. This pattern of deliberate misinformation is not only unprofessional, it is malicious, libelous and unacceptable in a democratic Nigeria where the rule of law prevails.
We therefore demand that Sahara Reporters and its publisher provide verifiable evidence of Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s alleged involvement in the attack on Mr. Okhai Okhani, or retract with apology, the defamatory story bearing the aforementioned caption within seven (7) days from the date of this publication.
Failure to do so will leave us with no option than to initiate legal proceedings against Sahara Reporters and its publisher, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, for defamation of character. We will also pursue appropriate criminal action for making false accusations with intent to expose His Excellency, Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole to retaliatory harm, and potential danger to his life.
Let it be stated unequivocally: Senator Oshiomhole abhors thuggery, violence, or any form of extra-judicial behaviour. He is a man of principle who upholds the rule of law and respects the rights and dignity of all Nigerians.
We hope that this clarification will put an end to the unfounded and dangerous attempts to associate Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole with the unfortunate incident that took place Auchi on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
