By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rescheduled its presidential campaign kick-off in Sokoto State to Wednesday, November 4, 2026, following alleged attacks, intimidation and threats against party members. The party announced the decision on Sunday while reaffirming its commitment to hold the event in the North-West. It also accused the Sokoto State Government of frustrating its political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ADC Accuses Sokoto Government of Frustrating Campaign Activities
The Director-General of the ADC governorship campaign in Sokoto State, Bello Goronyo, disclosed the new date while addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat.
Goronyo alleged that the state government opposed the party’s initial plan to hold its presidential campaign flag-off on October 31.
He further claimed that government pressure forced hotel operators to cancel reservations for delegates and supporters.
According to him, some government-owned hotels declined to accommodate ADC guests.
He also alleged that private hotel operators faced threats of demolition if they refused to cancel 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.
Goronyo described the alleged actions as attempts to undermine opposition activities and political pluralism in Sokoto State.
ADC Alleges Attacks on Members and Campaign Office
The ADC campaign director also alleged that security-linked groups attacked party members and supporters.
He claimed that ADC women supporters suffered attacks during a solidarity march on October 28.
According to him, the incident left several supporters injured and resulted in stolen mobile phones and damaged vehicles.
He added that attackers also targeted the party’s state campaign office that day.
The attackers reportedly damaged windows, doors and other property while destroying three motorcycles.
Furthermore, Goronyo alleged that the Sokoto Marshals and Sokoto Community Guards received instructions to stop ADC supporters from entering the state.
The party condemned the alleged restrictions, insisting that political affiliation should not determine citizens’ freedom of movement.
“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.
Party Demands Investigation into Airport Incident
Goronyo also accused government-linked security outfits of targeting ADC members.
He cited an alleged incident involving the party’s governorship candidate, Manir Dan’iya, at Sultan Abubakar III International Airport.
The incident reportedly occurred on October 30.
According to Goronyo, attackers smashed the candidate’s vehicles and fired gunshots during the confrontation.
He further claimed that security personnel detained two Department of State Services officers attached to the candidate.
Consequently, he called on the Inspector-General of Police and the DSS Director-General to investigate the incident.
He also demanded investigations into the alleged attacks, intimidation of hotel operators and involvement of state security personnel.
ADC Insists on Holding Rally in Sokoto
Despite the alleged challenges, the ADC maintained that it would not abandon Sokoto State as its campaign venue.
Goronyo insisted that the party would proceed with its political activities despite the reported obstacles.
Meanwhile, ADC chieftain Timothy Osadolor described the postponement as a strategic decision to prevent violence.
Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH, Osadolor said the party had no intention of relocating the campaign.
“We had a strategic rethink and rescheduled our presidential campaign flag-off to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
“We will stick with Sokoto and the onus is on the security agencies to provide security because we have written to notify them of our activities,” he said.
Osadolor blamed the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu and the Sokoto State Government for the situation.
He accused both administrations of attempting to frustrate the opposition party’s political activities.
He also questioned why the Sokoto State Government allegedly scheduled competing activities on the ADC’s original campaign date.
“When a government knows that its time is off, like a dying horse, it starts struggling,” he said.
Osadolor Says Atiku Will Win Support in North-West
Osadolor explained that the ADC deliberately selected Sokoto because of its political significance in the North-West.
He said the party wanted to demonstrate its growing acceptance across the region ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Why the choice of Sokoto? Sokoto is symbolic. We saw the shame and rejection meted out to the APC in Kaduna,” he added.
He expressed confidence that Nigerians would elect ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in 2027.
Osadolor also said the party intended to demonstrate its acceptance in a region where he claimed the APC faced rejection.
He described Atiku as a liberator who would gain public support across the North-West.
“We chose to go to the same North-West to show to 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.
Sokoto Government and APC Deny Allegations
However, the Sokoto State Government previously denied claims that it directed hotels to reject ADC delegates.
Similarly, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress rejected the allegations.
The APC maintained that hotel reservations accommodated dignitaries attending a traditional title ceremony.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain the ADC Presidential Campaign Council’s official position on the revised date produced no immediate response.
The council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, promised to check and respond when contacted.
However, he had yet to provide a response as of the time of filing this report.
