Atiku, Malami shut down Kebbi, insist ‘No going back on affordable and secure Nigeria’
*Former VP promises to restore fuel subsidy, tackle insecurity, create jobs as party presents Malami with governorship flag
*Campaign convoy reportedly attacked by suspected political thugs, cameras and recording equipment smashed
*ADC vows to challenge court judgment affecting party leadership and Atiku’s nomination
By OUR REPORTER
For the ADC, however, the message from Thursday’s campaign was that neither the reported security incidents nor the legal challenges would force it to abandon its quest for political power in 2027.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign train on Thursday November 5, 2026 stormed Kebbi State, where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Attorney General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), led the party’s campaign activities amid reported attacks on the campaign convoy, destruction of journalists’ equipment and allegations of the use of teargas by security operatives.
Despite the security controversies and legal challenges confronting the opposition party, the campaign attracted large crowds of supporters in Birnin Kebbi, where Atiku renewed his commitment to building an affordable, secure and prosperous Nigeria.
Addressing supporters at the rally, Atiku said Nigerians deserved relief from the economic hardship, rising cost of living and insecurity confronting the country.
He promised that, if elected president in 2027, his administration would restore fuel subsidy, strengthen national security and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The former Vice-President urged the electorate to embrace a new direction, insisting that the ADC remained committed to policies that would restore economic stability, improve living conditions and bring prosperity to ordinary citizens.
He identified affordability, security and employment as critical priorities of his proposed administration, arguing that Nigeria urgently needed leadership capable of responding to the everyday struggles of its people.
The rally also provided a major political platform for Malami, the ADC governorship candidate in Kebbi State, as the party’s national leadership formally presented him with its flag ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The ADC leadership urged Kebbi residents to support both Atiku’s presidential ambition and Malami’s governorship aspiration, describing the forthcoming elections as an opportunity to change the direction of governance at the federal and state levels.
Convoy reportedly attacked, journalists’ equipment destroyed
However, the campaign activities were overshadowed by reports of attacks on Atiku’s presidential campaign convoy by suspected political thugs, who allegedly mounted roadblocks at strategic junctions, pelted vehicles with stones and attacked members of the media team.
Cameras, video-recording devices, tripods and other production equipment belonging to journalists and media professionals accompanying the campaign were reportedly smashed.
The destruction allegedly crippled the media team’s operations and disrupted coverage of the campaign activities, an action believed to be an attempt to prevent other Nigerians home and in the Diaspora from seeing the exact crowds that trooped out to approve Atiku as their next president.
The Sokoto flag-off, many said, exposed the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential campaign flag-off strategically scheduled for Kaduna but failed to fly because the purported 5,000 capacity stadium was later revealed to have been deserted as only scattered number of people were in attendance against what was said to have earlier made-up with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by APC supporters.
Royalty Uso, Atiku’s Special Adviser on New Media, confirmed the incident in a post on X, accusing supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring the attacks.
“APC-sponsored thugs are mounting at junctions to attack the ADC Presidential campaign convoy in Kebbi.
“Our security operatives have had to intervene with tear gas, and our supporters have also stepped in to chase the hooligans away,” Uso stated.
A member of the campaign team alleged that the attackers deliberately targeted the media crew rather than attempting to steal valuables.
“The thugs did not come to steal. They came to destroy. They targeted our cameras and video crew because they did not want Nigerians to see what is happening here in Kebbi,” the source alleged.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of journalists, opposition supporters and political campaigners as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
Tear gas reportedly fired into building housing Atiku’s entourage
Earlier on Thursday, another security controversy emerged following allegations that security operatives fired tear gas into a building where Atiku and members of his entourage were staying in Kebbi.
Henry Shield, Head of Mission of the Leadership and Accountability Initiative, raised the alarm in a post on X, alleging that the building occupied by the former Vice-President and his team had been targeted.
Shield also alleged that the Kebbi State Government directed traditional rulers across the state to embark on a three-day vacation to prevent them from receiving courtesy visits from Atiku during his campaign tour.
“Security men are said to have fired teargas into the building where Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his entourage are presently camped in Kebbi State.
“Also, it is alleged that the Governor has mandated all traditional rulers in the state to go on three-day vacation so Atiku doesn’t visit any of them,” he wrote.
He added: “APC is not ready for this democracy.”
The allegations concerning the reported directive to traditional rulers and the alleged involvement of APC supporters in the attacks had not been independently established as of the time of filing this report.
ADC rejects court judgment, Atiku vows legal challenge
The Kebbi campaign also took place against the backdrop of a fresh legal crisis within the ADC following Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment reportedly affecting the party’s national leadership under former Senate President David Mark and Atiku’s 2027 presidential nomination.
The judgment has thrown fresh uncertainty into the party’s political structure and preparations for the next general elections.
The ADC rejected the ruling, with its spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, describing it as “judicial recklessness” and alleging that the decision was designed to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party also alleged that the development was part of a broader attempt to pave the way for the ruling APC to face little or no effective opposition in the next general elections.
Atiku, meanwhile, announced his intention to challenge the judgment, insisting that the party’s political struggle would continue.
The ADC also questioned the handling of its leadership dispute, citing an earlier controversy over its deregistration that was overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Campaign insists on change
Despite the reported attacks, security concerns and legal uncertainty, the ADC maintained its determination to take its campaign across the country.
The party’s message in Kebbi centred on economic affordability, improved security, employment generation and a change in governance at both federal and state levels.
The convergence of the campaign rally, the reported attacks on the convoy, the destruction of journalists’ equipment and the allegations involving security operatives has further heightened concerns about the atmosphere in which opposition parties are expected to operate ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Kebbi State Government, the APC and relevant security authorities are expected to clarify their positions on the allegations, while calls are likely to grow for an investigation into the reported attacks and destruction of media equipment.
For the ADC, however, the message from Thursday’s campaign was that neither the reported security incidents nor the legal challenges would force it to abandon its quest for political power in 2027.
