2027: Ray of hope as Atiku, Amaechi, Tambuwal storm strategic Sokoto with ADC campaign flag-off
• Why I am in Sokoto, Atiku tells Sultan in Palace
• Atiku vows to tackle insecurity, says nothing will stop ADC
• Explains why Sokoto was deliberately chosen for campaign launch
• Massive crowd welcomes ADC presidential candidate as motorcade takes three and a half hours to reach rally venue
• Former Vice President promises to restore fuel subsidy, reopen borders for legitimate business
By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTERS, Sokoto
The successful outing came against the background of heightened political tension in the state, following allegations of intimidation, obstruction of opposition activities and attempts to frustrate the ADC’s planned campaign flag-off.
The people of North-West extraction on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, finally demonstrated their determination to resist what opposition elements described as intimidation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as they turned out in large numbers to receive the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and other national leaders of the party for its presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto, the historic Seat of the Caliphate.
The campaign rally, which attracted party supporters and political stakeholders from across Sokoto State and other parts of the North-West geopolitical zone, was attended by Atiku’s running mate, former Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, among other prominent ADC leaders.
The successful outing came against the background of heightened political tension in the state, following allegations of intimidation, obstruction of opposition activities and attempts to frustrate the ADC’s planned campaign flag-off.
On Monday, November 2, 2026, while the 13th Usman Dan Fodio Week and 20th Coronation Anniversary of the Sultan of Sokoto were taking place at the International Conference Centre, Kasarawa, some individuals described by residents as uniformed personnel of the state government, alongside suspected hoodlums carrying swords and sticks on motorcycles, were reportedly seen moving around major roads in Sokoto metropolis without any clearly identifiable destination.
Similar activities were reportedly repeated on Tuesday, November 3, when vehicles bearing political insignia, trucks conveying disc jockeys (DJs), and groups of walking supporters of the APC were seen moving around the metropolis, beating drums, singing and dancing, without any publicly announced gathering point.
Their activities reportedly disrupted traffic along Kano Road, Gusau Road, Bello Way and Emir Yahaya Way, among other major routes.
Some of the motorcycle riders were also visibly seen driving recklessly, with individuals raising swords in both hands and others displaying sticks.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that the activities were deliberately designed to create fear among residents and discourage them from participating in the ADC presidential campaign.
“This is an idea of the APC to create fear in the people so that they will not come out for the ADC presidential campaign tomorrow (Wednesday). They are also doing it to provoke opposition members so that the state can descend into chaos. That would then provide security and intelligence operatives working for the ruling party an easy opportunity to call off the ADC presidential campaign flag-off, which they fear most, having faced the unexpected reality of Kaduna being chosen for their campaign flag-off recently,” the resident said.
The resident commended the opposition group led by Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for reportedly exercising restraint and keeping its supporters under control despite the prevailing political atmosphere.
According to the resident, the decision of ADC leaders to caution their supporters against retaliatory actions prevented what could have become a breakdown of law and order.
Despite the reported sealing of the party’s state secretariat and other alleged restrictions on its activities, ADC members and supporters remained determined to participate in the campaign flag-off.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION CONTROVERSY
Another ADC member, who also declined to disclose his identity, alleged that the state government had frustrated efforts by party supporters travelling into Sokoto by restricting access to hotel accommodation.
“The reason all of us are just coming to town today is because the Sokoto State Government allegedly claimed to have booked all the hotels.
“The question you, as a journalist, should go and ask them, if they can listen to you, is: ‘For what event are they booking all the hotels in the state?’
“But the truth is that there is no event they have, and they booked no single hotel room. Rather, they collected keys to all the hotel rooms, especially those where they have influence, such that the governor’s aides became the ones allocating hotel rooms, if they saw reason to let you.
“As soon as you check out, they collect the keys from the front-desk staff. All of that still failed. Today, we are here, and Atiku is in Sokoto,” he alleged.
The ADC supporters, however, eventually converged on Sokoto for the much-anticipated event, demonstrating the party’s determination to proceed with its political activities despite the controversies surrounding the rally.
ATIKU, AMAECHI, TAMBUWAL ARRIVE
The presidential candidate arrived in Sokoto in the afternoon of Wednesday, November 4, aboard his private aircraft, which touched down at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport at about 1pm.
He was received by a waiting crowd of admirers, party supporters and ADC leaders, including Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, his running mate, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Alhaji Mannir Muhammad Dan’iya, and other party chieftains.
Also among the political figures at the reception was Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives and former Sokoto State Commissioner for Finance.
The reception reportedly attracted thousands of supporters, who lined the roads from the airport towards the party’s state secretariat and adjoining streets.
Reports from the event indicated that Atiku’s motorcade took approximately three and a half hours to reach the rally venue, as supporters, including men, women, youths and elderly residents, trooped out to welcome him.
The massive reception was described by the ADC Presidential Campaign Council as an expression of growing public dissatisfaction with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and increasing support for the party’s promise to make life more affordable.
Before proceeding to the rally venue, Atiku reportedly paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, at the Sultan’s Palace, where he briefed the revered traditional ruler on the purpose of his visit and sought his royal blessings.
He thereafter proceeded to the campaign venue along Ilorin Road, where party supporters had gathered for the flag-off.
ATIKU VOWS TO RESTORE SECURITY
Addressing the crowd, Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to tackling insecurity across Nigeria, declaring that no attempt to frustrate the ADC or its campaign activities would stop the party from reaching Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.
“I enumerated some of the promises I made to Nigerians. One of the promises is to make sure that security is restored in every part of this country,” he declared.
The former Vice President urged Nigerians to support the ADC and vote for the party in the forthcoming general election, expressing confidence in its capacity to provide a different direction for the country.
He also reiterated other policy promises, including the restoration of fuel subsidy and the reopening of Nigeria’s land borders for legitimate commercial activities.
According to him, Nigerians have never had it so difficult, while accusing the APC-led administration of implementing policies that have worsened the economic circumstances of ordinary citizens.
He urged supporters not only to vote for the ADC but also to protect their votes during the 2027 general election.
ATIKU’S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST DSS, SOKOTO GOVERNMENT
The successful campaign flag-off came barely 24 hours after Atiku accused the Sokoto State Government and some security operatives of allegedly plotting to disrupt the rally.
At a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, November 3, the former Vice President alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS) was recruiting protesters to cause disturbances and create a situation that could provide justification for imposing a curfew to prevent the ADC from holding its campaign.
He also accused the state government of denying the opposition party access to public facilities and logistical support for the rally, describing the alleged restrictions as deliberate attempts to deny the ADC a level playing field.
The allegations attracted a response from the DSS, which said its Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, had ordered an investigation into the claims, despite describing them as inconsistent with the Service’s operations.
In its explanation, the agency maintained that its operatives had continued to provide security protection to political actors across party lines.
It specifically cited the October 31 incident involving the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto, Mannir Muhammad Dan’iya, whom its operatives reportedly evacuated to safety following a mob attack.
The DSS further disclosed that two of its personnel sustained injuries during the incident and were receiving medical attention.
The agency’s response notwithstanding, Atiku maintained his determination to proceed with the campaign, insisting that no attempt to frustrate the opposition party would prevent him from addressing the people of Sokoto.
WHY SOKOTO?
Explaining the significance of Sokoto as the location for the campaign flag-off, Atiku reportedly pointed to the state’s historical importance and reputation for peace.
Sokoto occupies a special place in Nigeria’s political, religious and traditional history as the Seat of the Sokoto Caliphate, established following the 1804 Usman Dan Fodio-led reform movement.
Its influence extends beyond Nigeria’s borders, particularly across the wider West African Muslim community.
The former Vice President’s choice of Sokoto therefore carried political and historical significance, particularly at a time when the opposition party was seeking to demonstrate its acceptance and strength in the North-West, a region considered important to determining the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
The campaign flag-off also came against the backdrop of the ADC’s earlier decision to postpone the event, initially scheduled for October 31, to November 4, amid reported security concerns and controversies surrounding the party’s political activities in the state.
For the ADC, Wednesday’s outing represented more than the commencement of another presidential campaign. It was also an opportunity to demonstrate its organisational capacity, mobilise supporters across the North-West and communicate its alternative political agenda to Nigerians.
With Atiku, Amaechi and Tambuwal standing together in Sokoto, the party sought to project a united opposition front and a message of renewed political hope ahead of the 2027 general election.
Whether the impressive reception and reported massive turnout would translate into electoral victory remains a question for the electorate to answer at the polls.
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