Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the leadership of the State Security Service, SSS, of recruiting protesters to disrupt the African Democratic Congress, ADC, campaign rally in Sokoto State.
Mr Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, alleged that the planned protests were part of an attempt to create disorder, provide a justification for imposing a curfew and ultimately prevent the party’s campaign from holding as scheduled.
He made the allegations while addressing journalists, where he also accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of using state institutions to frustrate opposition parties and undermine democratic competition.
According to him, public facilities that should be accessible to political parties for legitimate campaign activities had been blocked, while logistical support for the ADC rally had allegedly been withheld.
He described the development as a calculated attempt to deny the opposition a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.
“More disturbing still, the information available to us is that the leadership of the Department of State Services is recruiting people to stage protests in Sokoto.
“The objective is to create disorder, give the APC-controlled state government a pretext to impose a curfew and prevent our campaign take-off from holding as scheduled,” he said.
The former vice president claimed that some of the protesters had assembled at an office behind Zenith Bank on Koko Road, from where trucks were allegedly being dispatched to strategic locations, including a roundabout.
He further alleged that the protesters were causing traffic congestion, threatening commuters and assaulting some residents.
“We know where some of these protesters are assembled: an office behind Zenith Bank on Koko Road. Trucks are stationed there and dispatched to key points, including the roundabout.
“These mobilised protesters are causing gridlock. Commuters are being threatened and, in some cases, beaten,” he said.
Atiku described the alleged involvement of security operatives in the mobilisation of protesters as political interference, urging officers involved to desist from actions capable of undermining public confidence in security institutions.
“This is not intelligence work. It is political interference dressed in official uniform.
“Security agencies exist to protect Nigerians and uphold the law, not to recruit protesters or help a political party manufacture a crisis,” he said.
He called on the DSS leadership to ensure that its personnel remained politically neutral and discharged their responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution.
Atiku also accused the Tinubu administration of devoting more attention to weakening opposition parties than addressing the country’s economic challenges.
He alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had adopted a strategy of political absorption and intimidation, including attracting former opposition figures into its fold, to narrow the space for political competition.
According to him, the development was aimed at gradually turning Nigeria into a one-party state.
The ADC presidential candidate said the administration should instead be concerned about the rising cost of living, which he said had left millions of Nigerians struggling to afford basic necessities.
“For three and a half years, the Tinubu administration has devoted too much energy to weakening credible opposition and too little to solving the problems facing Nigerians.
“Food, transport, fuel, electricity and other essentials have become unaffordable for millions. Families are struggling to feed their children, pay school fees and keep their businesses alive.
“That is the record this government should be defending before the people, instead of trying to stop a rally,” he said.
Atiku promised that an ADC government would introduce measures to reduce the cost of living, stimulate local production, strengthen food security and create employment opportunities.
He specifically proposed a targeted production subsidy tied to fuel refined in Nigeria, saying the policy would provide measurable relief to consumers while supporting domestic industries.
“I will make life affordable again. We will support local production, strengthen food production, create jobs and reduce the cost of doing business,” he said.
The former vice president also criticised the APC over what he described as the poor turnout at its recent rally in Kaduna, claiming that the development reflected declining public confidence in the ruling party.
He said rather than learn from the experience, the APC had allegedly resorted to intimidation and obstruction of opposition activities.
Atiku described the 2027 general election as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that the contest would determine whether Nigerians could freely choose their leaders.
“This is more than a contest between parties or candidates. It is a choice between a government that has shown indifference to people’s suffering and Nigerians who have endured enough and want their votes to count,” he said.
He vowed that the ADC would resist attempts to frustrate its campaign through administrative restrictions and other alleged underhand tactics.
The former vice president also confirmed that he would proceed to Sokoto the following day to address residents, despite the alleged efforts to prevent the rally from taking place.
He appealed to residents and supporters of the party to remain peaceful and avoid actions that could trigger a security crisis.
“I call on the people of Sokoto to remain calm and peaceful. Do not allow anyone to provoke you or turn a political gathering into a security crisis.
“I also urge the security agencies to protect commuters, residents and rally participants without favour. The authorities must ensure that our rally can hold peacefully and without interference,” he said.
Atiku further urged Nigerians not to surrender their democratic rights to intimidation, assuring supporters that he would personally lead the ADC campaign.
“As the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, I give you my word: I will lead this campaign and I will not abandon the field.
“We will confront every attempt to restrict democratic participation with firmness, organisation and faith in the Nigerian people,” he said.
He warned that security personnel who allegedly colluded in suppressing political freedom would be held accountable under the law, while pledging support for officers who refused to be used against democratic institutions.
“Nigeria belongs to its people, not to any party or temporary occupant of power. We will defend that truth and the people’s right to choose,” he added.
