The Sokoto State Government has sealed the state secretariat of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid a dispute over ownership of the property.
The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Nasir Dan Tsoho, announced the decision on Monday, saying the government had reviewed the property’s certificate of occupancy and other relevant documents, The Whistler reports.
Dan Tsoho said the move followed a misunderstanding between supporters of different political parties last week, during which some individuals allegedly disrupted activities at the ADC office.
He said an investigation by the ministry found that the property was registered in the name of the defunct Savannah Bank, and that official records showed no change of ownership at the time of the investigation.
According to the commissioner, the government had contacted the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), which he described as the property’s custodian, to establish its current ownership status, but had yet to receive a response.
“The purpose is simply to inform the general public that there is a government in town, and that has to be respected,” Dan Tsoho said.
He said the premises would remain sealed pending clarification from the NDIC, adding that the action was intended to protect lives and property and maintain law and order.
“Anybody claiming ownership of the property should come forward with the necessary documentation for verification and possible release of the premises,” he said.
The commissioner warned that the property would remain under the control of the state government until further notice. He also cautioned people against trying to enter the sealed premises, saying violators could face legal action, including prosecution.
Reacting to the development, ADC supporter Bashir Garba Sufyan criticised the government’s action, saying it came just two days before the party’s planned campaign flag-off in Sokoto State on November 4.
In a post on X, Sufyan said the government had declared that the building used as the party’s state secretariat belonged to the former Savannah Bank and had sealed it pending further notice.
“This is coming just two days to the official ADC campaign flag-off, which is scheduled in Sokoto State on the 4th of November, 2026,” he wrote.
He described the development as a setback for democracy in Nigeria and compared the country’s current situation with its experience under military rule.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the current situation of our democracy in Nigeria, which the current President always claimed that he fought for. Nigeria wasn’t this bad during our military era,” Sufyan said.
