ADC reports Governor Aliyu, Senator Wamakko to US, UK, EU, Muslim World League over alleged political violence in Sokoto

*Party warns state government: ‘You cannot intimidate us’

*Names governor, senator as those to be held personally responsible for attacks on opposition members

*Vows not to abandon its constitutional right to campaign in Sokoto or any other part of Nigeria

*’Opposition participation cannot depend on a willingness to endure violence’

By KEMI KASUMU

“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,” ADC declared.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the Sokoto State Government against alleged attempts to frustrate its political activities, declaring that Governor Ahmed Aliyu would be held personally responsible for any violence against opposition members in the state.

The warning comes amid a petition by a civil society organisation, Arewa Transformational Leader, to the United States and United Kingdom embassies, the European Union and the Muslim World League, reporting alleged state-sponsored violence and intimidation of opposition members in Sokoto.

The petition, dated November 3, 2026, and titled “Urgent Appeal for Diplomatic Intervention over Political Violence and Threats to Democratic Participation in Sokoto State, Nigeria,” reportedly called for international intervention ahead of the ADC presidential campaign flag-off scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

The organisation said its letters were delivered to and acknowledged by the respective embassies, while the petition to the Muslim World League was reportedly sent by email.

The letter is coming, according to a release on the letter, also at a time Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State is privileged to be with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is reportedly in the Holy Land of Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to pray for Nigeria’s peace and prosperity, but supporters of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are allegedly perpetratin violence against opposition members under his watch and alleged supervision of his political benefactor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, including sealing off the opposition political office designated as the venue for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto State.

The petition was addressed to the Embassies of the United States and United Kingdom, the European Union through its Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and the Muslim World League. The letters were reportedly delivered and acknowledged by the respective embassies, while that to the Muslim World League was said to have been sent by email.

The organisation expressed concern that Governor Aliyu could be performing Lesser Hajj in Makkah while alleged political violence was being perpetrated against opposition supporters in his state, describing the development as contrary to Islamic teachings and the principles of peace and justice.

In the petition, the group said, “We write to respectfully seek the urgent attention and diplomatic intervention of the European Union… regarding a disturbing pattern of political violence, intimidation, and restrictions on democratic participation in Sokoto State, Nigeria.”

It identified three major incidents, beginning with an alleged attack on women participating in a peaceful ADC solidarity procession on October 28, 2026, which reportedly left several of them seriously injured.

The organisation identified one Aliyu KC and his associates as alleged perpetrators, while calling for an independent investigation.

It also alleged that the convoy of the ADC governorship candidate, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya, was attacked on October 30 by operatives of Sokoto Marshal and Sokoto Community Guards.

“Opposition participation cannot depend on a willingness to endure violence,” the group declared.

Another allegation concerned the sealing of the ADC campaign office by the state government on November 2, barely 48 hours before the party’s presidential campaign flag-off scheduled for Wednesday, November 4.

The organisation described the action as a possible attempt at partisan suppression, insisting that “an elected government cannot legitimately close the political space through which others seek a democratic mandate.”

The petition further raised questions over the reported release from prison of Aliyu KC and his associates, alleging that the circumstances surrounding their release required investigation to establish whether political actors or public officials facilitated it.

It urged the relevant authorities to investigate whether the individuals were subsequently involved in acts of intimidation against opposition supporters and whether anyone financed, directed or protected their activities.

The group also drew attention to unverified reports that APC stakeholders had mobilised political thugs to disrupt ADC activities and allegedly procured motorcycles for their operations.

It, however, acknowledged that the reports remained unverified and called for immediate investigation and preventive security measures ahead of the campaign.

Expressing further concern, the organisation referenced the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advisory against travelling to Sokoto State, arguing that politically protected violence would worsen insecurity and undermine democratic institutions.

It specifically placed Governor Ahmed Aliyu, the Sokoto State Government and Senator Wamakko on notice over the alleged threats.

“We urge the international community to hold them politically accountable for further violence connected to their supporters or proxies, and for failures to address threats within their respective powers,” the petition stated.

Among its five major demands, the organisation asked the international community to urgently engage the Sokoto State Government and federal authorities to guarantee peaceful political participation and impartial security protection for ADC supporters, journalists, residents and property.

It also called for visa restrictions and other applicable sanctions against individuals identified, on credible evidence, as perpetrators or sponsors of political violence.

Other demands included independent investigations into the alleged attacks, the circumstances surrounding the release of Aliyu KC and his associates, and reports of mobilisation and procurement of motorcycles for political thuggery.

The group further demanded an immediate explanation for the sealing of the ADC campaign office and urged its reopening unless a lawful justification could be established.

It also called for international monitoring of developments and protection of witnesses against possible retaliation.

The allegations against Governor Aliyu, Senator Wamakko, the Sokoto State Government, APC stakeholders and the identified individuals have not been independently established. Their responses to the petition were not contained in the material made available to The DEFENDER.

The ADC presidential campaign flag-off is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, in Sokoto, amid calls for security agencies to ensure that political parties can exercise their democratic rights without intimidation or violence.

‘Sokoto government can’t intimidate us’

In a separate statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the Sokoto State Government of political obstruction and deliberate attempts to undermine the constitutional rights of opposition parties.

“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,” the party declared.

It insisted that no governor had the authority to determine which political party could campaign or which candidates could address the electorate.

The ADC consequently demanded an immediate end to alleged interference with its campaign activities, urging security agencies and public institutions to remain impartial.

“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,” it stated.

Petition

In its petition, Arewa Transformational Leader identified three major incidents which it said required urgent investigation.

The first was an alleged attack on women participating in a peaceful ADC solidarity procession on October 28, 2026, which reportedly left several participants seriously injured.

The organisation identified one Aliyu KC and his associates as alleged perpetrators and called for an independent investigation.

It also alleged that the convoy of the ADC governorship candidate, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya, was attacked on October 30 by operatives of the Sokoto Marshal and Sokoto Community Guards.

“Opposition participation cannot depend on a willingness to endure violence,” the organisation declared.

Another major allegation concerned the reported sealing of the ADC campaign office by the state government on November 2, barely 48 hours before the party’s presidential campaign flag-off.

Describing the development as possible partisan suppression, the group argued that an elected government could not legitimately close the political space through which opposition parties sought democratic mandates.

The petition also questioned the reported release from prison of Aliyu KC and his associates, demanding an investigation into whether political actors or public officials facilitated their release and whether they subsequently participated in alleged intimidation of opposition supporters.

It further drew attention to unverified reports that APC stakeholders had mobilised political thugs and allegedly procured motorcycles for operations aimed at disrupting ADC activities.

Although acknowledging that the reports had not been independently verified, the organisation demanded immediate investigation and preventive security measures.

The group specifically placed Governor Aliyu, the Sokoto State Government and Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko on notice over the allegations.

“We urge the international community to hold them politically accountable for further violence connected to their supporters or proxies, and for failures to address threats within their respective powers,” the petition stated.

Among its demands were diplomatic engagement with the Sokoto State Government and federal authorities, impartial security protection for opposition members, journalists and residents, and independent investigations into the alleged attacks.

It also called for visa restrictions and other applicable sanctions against individuals established through credible evidence to have sponsored or perpetrated political violence.

Other demands included an explanation for the sealing of the ADC campaign office, its reopening unless a lawful justification could be established, international monitoring of developments and protection of witnesses against possible retaliation.

The organisation also referenced the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advisory against travelling to Sokoto State, warning that politically motivated violence could further undermine security and democratic institutions.

The allegations against Governor Aliyu, Senator Wamakko, the Sokoto State Government, APC stakeholders and the individuals mentioned in the petition have not been independently established as their responses were not contained in the materials available to The DEFENDER as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the ADC has maintained that it would not abandon its constitutional right to campaign in Sokoto or any other part of Nigeria.

“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 party declared.

The November 4 campaign flag-off is expected to test the ability of security agencies to guarantee peaceful political participation and protect the rights of all parties in the state.