…Party Alleges Intimidation
The Sokoto State Government has sealed an office of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in the state, citing a dispute over ownership of the property.
The government claimed that the building belonged to the defunct Savannah Bank and remained under the custody of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Physical Planning, Nasiru Dantsoho, announced the closure on Monday during an inspection of the premises in Sokoto.
Dantsoho said the decision followed a review of the property’s Certificate of Occupancy and other relevant documents, which, according to him, still identified Savannah Bank as the owner.
He disclosed that the state government had written to the NDIC, which he described as the custodian of the property, seeking clarification on its current ownership.
“We are yet to receive a reply. We are waiting for further directives from them,” the commissioner said.
He explained that the government also sealed the premises to prevent further disturbances following a reported confrontation between supporters of different political parties last week.
According to him, there were reports that some individuals invaded the premises and disrupted the activities of another political party.
Dantsoho said the government would retain control of the building pending clarification from the NDIC, insisting that the action was necessary to protect lives and property.
He urged anyone claiming ownership of the property to submit relevant documents for verification, assuring that it would be released to its rightful owner once the ownership issue was resolved.
The commissioner also warned against attempts to forcefully gain access to the premises.
“Anybody who feels or thinks that he is going to test the resolve of the government by trying to force himself to enter here, certainly, necessary action will be taken, even prosecution,” he warned.
However, the ADC accused the state government of deliberately frustrating its political activities, describing the sealing as another attempt to intimidate the opposition.
Aminu Abdullahi Abubakar, media aide to the party’s governorship candidate, Maniru Muhammad Dan’iya, said the government had taken several steps to frustrate the party but had failed to stop its activities.
He questioned why the government would allegedly prevent the opposition from holding its presidential campaign in the state.
“What surprises us is that we do not know what the Sokoto State Government is afraid of by not allowing the ADC opposition party to hold its presidential campaign in Sokoto,” he said.
Abubakar also challenged the government’s ownership claim, arguing that Savannah Bank had been liquidated about 24 years ago.
He claimed that the NDIC had clarified on February 12, 2002, that the property no longer belonged to the defunct bank.
He further questioned why the state government had failed to establish the property’s rightful ownership despite the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) occupying the premises for about 10 years.
The ADC aide also alleged that the government had earlier frustrated the party’s efforts to secure the Trade Fair premises for its campaign activities.
According to him, the party was asked to pay ₦30m for the venue and agreed to the condition but was subsequently denied access.
Abubakar said the latest development occurred barely 48 hours before the party’s scheduled presidential campaign flag-off in the state.
Despite the closure, he insisted that the development would not stop the party from holding its programme on Wednesday.
When asked whether the ADC would attempt to use the sealed premises for the campaign, he said the government appeared to have assumed that the party intended to hold the event there.
He maintained that the party would find an alternative space, regardless of its size.
“We are not intimidated by this, and it will not stop us from holding our programme. If there is any place, even if it is one foot, we will enter and hold our programme on Wednesday,” he said.
The ADC aide further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of imposing restrictions on opposition parties, describing the situation as an attack on democratic principles.
He disclosed that the party’s leadership had reported the matter to security agencies and international organisations, insisting that the development went beyond ordinary political disagreements.
“This is not politics; it is dictatorship. Even during military rule, this kind of thing did not happen, let alone under a democratic government,” he said.
The ADC had earlier postponed its presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto from October 31 to November 4, 2026, citing planning and coordination considerations.
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