Sokoto State Government has sealed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign office in Sokoto, barely 24 hours before the party’s scheduled presidential campaign flag-off, sparking fresh political tension in the state.
The campaign office was reportedly sealed on Monday evening in an exercise said to have been supervised by the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho.
The action temporarily halted activities at the office pending further directives.
Efforts to reach the commissioner for comments were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.
However, sources familiar with the development said the building was sealed to verify its ownership.
According to information circulating online and shared by the Director-General, Media and Publicity to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Abubakar Bawa, the property reportedly belongs to the defunct Savannah Bank.
The statement added that the building was previously occupied by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal defected to the ADC.
The statement further claimed that the ADC recently took over the building, a move allegedly resisted by some PDP members.
“Fearing the breakout of renewed violence, the State Government sealed up the building. And has taken steps to find out the authentic owner building from the NDIC,” the statement read.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the ADC governorship candidate, Manir Dan’Iya, Aminu Abdullahi, described the action as another attempt to frustrate the opposition ahead of the party’s presidential campaign.
“We are not surprise at what the APC is doing at all. We expected that because of the fear of imminent defeat that has gripped them.
“And what they failed to understand is the fact that all these efforts at blocking our successes is indirectly helping us gain more mileage and political acceptability,” he said.
Abdullahi further accused the ruling APC of sponsoring attacks against the party and its supporters in recent days.
“Just within few days, the APC attacked our innocent women embarking on peaceful solidarity for Manir Dan’Iya. Same day, APC thugs stoned and shattered the window glasses of office.
“The APC also used State Security to block Zamfara-Sokoto and Kebbi-Sokoto roads just in a desperate attempt to prevent ADC members from entering Sokoto for the presidential campaign flag off.
“Shortly after that, the APC through the State owned and funded security outfit attempted to assassinate our governorship candidate, Hon. Manir Dan’Iya and now it’s unwarranted sealing off of our office.
“The whole essence of all these attacks is because of the upcoming ADC presidential campaign flag off in Sokoto. The ADC had earlier written to the State Government seeking space to conduct the event.
“The Government responded by asking us to pay 30 million naira levy and we agreed but requested that they give us account details where such payment will be made.
“But, unfortunately, till this day, they have not given us the account details.”
Despite the development, Abdullahi insisted that the party would proceed with its presidential campaign rally as scheduled.
“Nothing is stopping the ADC from flagging off its Presidential campaign rally in Sokoto,” he said.
The sealing of the campaign office comes amid growing political rivalry in Sokoto ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ADC and the ruling APC trading accusations over political activities in the state.
As of the time of filing this report, the Sokoto State Government had not issued any additional official statement beyond the explanation that the building was sealed to determine its rightful ownership.
