ADC Reschedules Sokoto Presidential Rally to November 4, Alleges Intimidation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rescheduled its presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto State to Wednesday, November 4, accusing the state government of intimidating its members and frustrating preparations for the rally.

The party said it would proceed with the event despite alleged threats, attacks on its supporters and attempts to restrict its political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Director-General of the ADC governorship campaign in Sokoto State, Bello Goronyo, announced the new date on Sunday while addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat in Sokoto.

Goronyo alleged that the state government opposed the party’s initial plan to hold the presidential campaign launch on October 31, 2026. He claimed that the government subsequently mounted pressure on hotel operators to cancel reservations made for delegates and supporters.

According to him, some government-owned hotels declined to accommodate the party’s guests, while private hotel operators allegedly faced threats of demolition if they honoured the bookings.

“We have received reports that hotel operators were threatened with consequences, including the demolition of their properties, if they refused to comply,” he said.

He described the alleged actions as an attempt to suppress opposition activities and undermine political pluralism in the state.

Goronyo also accused government-linked security outfits of involvement in attacks on ADC members, including an incident involving the party’s governorship candidate, Manir Dan’iya, at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport on October 30.

He alleged that attackers smashed the candidate’s vehicles and fired gunshots during the incident. He further claimed that two Department of State Services (DSS) personnel attached to the candidate’s security detail were detained.

The campaign director called on the police and the DSS to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.

He also alleged that ADC women supporters suffered attacks during a solidarity march on October 28, leaving some participants injured. According to him, the attackers also stole mobile phones and damaged vehicles.

Goronyo said the party’s state campaign office came under attack on the same day, with windows, doors and other property damaged. Three motorcycles were also destroyed.

The party further accused personnel of the Sokoto Marshals and Sokoto Community Guards of attempting to prevent its supporters from entering the state ahead of the campaign rally.

“No governor, political party or security commander has the authority to restrict citizens from entering a state because of their political affiliation,” the party said.

Goronyo urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the DSS to investigate the alleged attacks, threats against hotel operators and involvement of state security personnel.

He insisted that the party would not abandon its campaign activities despite the alleged obstacles.

However, the Sokoto State Government had earlier denied claims that it directed hotels to reject ADC delegates.

The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also maintained that hotel reservations were made to accommodate dignitaries expected to attend a traditional title ceremony.

Meanwhile, ADC chieftain, Timothy Osadolor, had earlier confirmed that the party would retain Sokoto as the venue for its presidential campaign launch despite postponing the event initially scheduled for Saturday, October 31.

Osadolor said the decision to reschedule the rally followed concerns about security and the possibility of violence. He maintained that the party had no intention of changing the venue.

“We had a strategic rethink and rescheduled our presidential campaign flag-off to avoid unnecessary loss of lives,” he said.

He added that the party had formally notified security agencies and expected them to provide adequate protection for participants.

Osadolor blamed the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and the Sokoto State Government for the circumstances surrounding the postponement, accusing them of attempting to frustrate the opposition party’s activities.

He also questioned the alleged decision by the Sokoto State Government to schedule activities that could undermine the ADC rally on the same day the party had advertised its campaign launch.

“When a government knows that its time is off, like a dying horse, it starts struggling,” he said.

Osadolor explained that the choice of Sokoto reflected the party’s desire to make a strong political statement in the North-West ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He cited the region’s political significance and what he described as the APC’s rejection by voters in Kaduna as reasons for the decision.

“Why the choice of Sokoto? Sokoto is symbolic. We saw the shame and rejection meted out to the APC in Kaduna,” he added.

He said the ADC wanted to demonstrate its acceptance across the region, despite what he described as the ruling party’s declining popularity.

“We chose to go to the same North-West to show Nigerians that whereas they were rejected in the same geopolitical zone, we will be accepted because they know the liberator, Mr Subsidy Removal is coming in the person of Waziri Atiku Abubakar,” Osadolor said.

He expressed confidence that Nigerians would elect former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as president in 2027.