African Democratic Congress (ADC) don keep di location of its presidential campaign rally for Sokoto State secret as di party prepare to kick off its campaign on Wednesday, November 4, because of security concerns.
Di party say e dey take precautionary measures to avoid any surprise attack or attempt to disrupt di rally, following reports of plans to frustrate di event.
Di development come as political tension dey rise for Sokoto after di state government seal ADC state office. Di party also accuse some people of attacking its supporters and trying to interfere with its political activities.
Spokesman for ADC Presidential Campaign Committee, Dahiru Maishanu, tell our correspondent say di party don already secure venue for di rally but dey wait for approval from its national headquarters before revealing di location.
Maishanu explain say dem no fit disclose di venue for now because of some reasons, but dem go inform people once dem get clearance from di party’s national leadership.
He also reveal say di party don contact both di police and Department of State Services (DSS) over reports of plans to disrupt di rally. According to am, di two security agencies don assure di party say dem go provide enough protection.
Maishanu add say some ADC members don already arrive Sokoto ahead of di rally and don find places to stay, despite wetin he describe as restrictions on accommodation for their guests by di state government.
On di sealing of ADC state office, Maishanu say party leaders don visit di state police command, where dem tell dem say police no get any knowledge of di closure.
He add say police also explain say any quasi-security agency no get power to independently seal property without police involvement or court order.
According to am, police assure dem say di office still dey available to di party and make dem no need to panic.
Meanwhile, spokesman for Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirm say di command don receive official letter from ADC organisers to provide security for di rally.
Rufai say di Commissioner of Police don already direct officers to make sure say dem provide enough security for di event.
He explain say police no go stop any political party from holding campaign rally because na constitutional right.
However, he admit say di command never receive information about di exact venue, but assure say security arrangements go dey in place.
Sokoto Government Defend Decision To Seal ADC Office
Meanwhile, Sokoto State Government don defend its decision to seal ADC office, insisting say di action no get anything to do with attempts to frustrate di party’s political activities.
Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Aliyu Dantsoho, explain say government take di action after violent clash happen between supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ADC for di property.
He say government later receive security report wey warn say more violence fit happen if dem no take action.
Dantsoho add say investigation into di ownership of di property show say di Certificate of Occupancy still dey under di name of former Savannah Bank.
According to am, di state government don contact Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to get clarification because di agency dey responsible for managing assets of banks wey don collapse.
He insist say government intervention na to prevent breakdown of law and order and protect lives and property.
Di disagreement happen as political parties don begin increase their activities ahead of di 2027 general elections.
On Tuesday, APC youths for Sokoto organise one-million-man rally to show support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s second-term ambition.
Di procession start from Racecourse for Sokoto metropolis, pass through Emir Yahaya Road, Bello Way and Maiduguri Road before e end for Government House gate.
