The camp of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to order the immediate reopening of its campaign secretariat in Sokoto State after police operatives sealed the premises.
This was just as the party accused the Sokoto State Government of directing the police to shut its state campaign office along Ahmadu Bello Way, Sokoto, on Tuesday, without a valid court order or prior statutory notice.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman (Dan Amar Sokoto), Deputy Director-General (Administration) of the Atiku Abubakar ADC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, described the action as unlawful, unconstitutional and an infringement on the party’s fundamental rights.
Suleiman alleged that the police operatives acted on the instructions of the state government without providing any legal justification for sealing the facility.
“On Tuesday, 3 November 2026, officers of the Sokoto State Police Command, acting on the orders of the Sokoto State Government, sealed the State Campaign Office of the African Democratic Congress on Ahmadu Bello Way, Sokoto. No court order was shown, no notice was served, and no lawful reason has been given,” he stated.
He said the ADC had operated from the premises for more than eight years, arguing that the government could not arbitrarily shut the facility without following due process.
“The ADC has operated openly from those premises for more than eight years. A government genuinely interested in the ownership or occupation of a building would write and inquire. It would not deploy armed operatives to seal the doors of its political opponents on the eve of a major campaign launch,” he added.
The party linked the incident to what it described as an increasing pattern of intimidation against its members and supporters in Sokoto State.
It also recalled the alleged assault on its governorship candidate, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, four days earlier.
The ADC accused the state government of resorting to force to frustrate its growing political support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The Sokoto State Government is clearly unsettled by the organic, expanding support for the ADC and its candidates across the state, and it has chosen to respond with force rather than democratic debate,” the statement alleged.
The party vowed to explore legal and constitutional means to reclaim its secretariat, warning that the state government and police command would be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order arising from the incident.
It urged the IGP to ensure that the police maintained political neutrality and did not allow themselves to be used against opposition parties.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police to direct the immediate unsealing of our premises and to remind the Sokoto State Command that its constitutional duty is to protect every political party equally, not to do the bidding of the ruling party,” Suleiman stated.
The ADC also appealed to civil society organisations, local and international election observers, and the diplomatic community, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, to demand accountability from the Sokoto State Government.
“Democracy in Sokoto will not be locked away. The people of Sokoto will be heard,” the party added.
Meanwhile, the ADC has warned the Sokoto State Government against further interference in its political activities, declaring that the state governor would be held personally responsible for any violence against the opposition in the state.
In a separate statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party condemned what it described as increasing political obstruction in Sokoto as it prepares to launch its campaign.
The party described the alleged actions as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the opposition and undermine the constitutional rights of Nigerians.
“The Sokoto State Government must understand that governing a State does not confer ownership. Public office is a temporary mandate from the people, not a licence to suppress political competition. No governor has the power to decide which party can campaign, which candidate can speak, or which political choices the people of Sokoto are allowed to consider,” the statement read.
The ADC demanded an end to what it called political sabotage, urging the state government to guarantee a level playing field for all political parties.
It also reminded security agencies and public institutions that their allegiance should be to the Constitution and Nigerians rather than the interests of the ruling party.
- African Democratic Congress (ADC)
The opposition party warned that public officials who abuse their positions to obstruct lawful political activities would face legal consequences.
“Let there be no misunderstanding. The ADC will campaign in Sokoto State. We will not be intimidated, obstructed or pushed out of any part of Nigeria simply because those in power are afraid of political competition. Democratic participation is not a privilege to be granted by a governor. It is a right guaranteed by the Constitution,” it declared.
The party further accused the ruling party of displaying intolerance towards opposition activities because of its alleged fear of an electoral contest.
It urged its members and supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding while insisting that it would continue to exercise its right to campaign across the country.
“The future of Sokoto belongs to the people of Sokoto, not to any governor or political party. No government has the right to veto democracy,” the statement concluded.