The former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has vowed that his campaign in Sokoto will proceed despite alleged intimidation, declaring that the party will resist any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party State.
Atiku stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing the press on developments ahead of the party’s campaign in Sokoto.
He said what is unfolding in Sokoto is not ordinary political competition but a calculated campaign to frustrate the ADC, obstruct its campaign and deny Nigerians the freedom to choose.
“Public facilities that should be available to every political party for legitimate campaign activities have been blocked. Logistical support has been withheld. These are not harmless administrative delays. They are deliberate attempts to deny ADC a level playing field,” he said.
Atiku alleged that the leadership of the Department of State Services was recruiting people to stage protests in Sokoto to create disorder and give the APC-controlled state government a pretext to impose a curfew and prevent the campaign from taking off.
“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 roundabout. These mobilised protesters are causing gridlock. Commuters are being threatened and, in some cases, beaten,” he said.
He said security agencies existed to protect Nigerians and uphold the law, not to recruit protesters or help a political party manufacture a crisis.
“This is not intelligence work. It is political interference dressed in official uniform. I call on every officer involved to stop immediately and return to constitutional duty of impartial service,” he said.
Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of devoting too much energy to weakening credible opposition and too little to solving the problems facing Nigerians in the last three- and-a-half years.
“It has pursued politics of absorption and intimidation, while drawing former opposition figures into APC and narrowing space for political competition. Aim is to reduce Nigeria to one party state in all but name,” he said.
He said the government was afraid of the people’s verdict, having unleashed a crushing cost-of-living crisis.
“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 record this government should be defending before people, instead of trying to stop rally,” he said.
Atiku promised to make life affordable again if elected.
“We will support local production, strengthen food production, create jobs and reduce cost of doing business. We will pursue targeted production subsidy tied to fuel refined in Nigeria, so that support reaches consumers through measurable relief while also strengthening domestic industry,” he said.
He said the APC had still not recovered from the abysmal failure of its last rally in Kaduna and should have taken it as a warning that Nigerians are withdrawing their confidence.
“Instead, it has chosen intimidation and obstruction. These are last kicks of dying horse. The more this government tries to silence people, the clearer it becomes that it has already lost their confidence,” he said.
Atiku described the 2027 general election as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“This is more than contest between parties or candidates. It is choice between government that has shown indifference to people’s suffering and Nigerians who have endured enough and want their votes to count,” he said.
He said the ADC would resist every gimmick, administrative roadblock and underhand manoeuvre designed to exclude the opposition.
“We will not be intimidated into silence or irrelevance. Our campaign will proceed, and I will be in Sokoto tomorrow, God willing, to address good people of state,” he said.
He urged the people of Sokoto to remain calm and peaceful and not allow anyone to provoke them. He also urged security agencies to protect commuters, residents and rally participants without favor.
“To voters of Nigeria, remain resolute. Stand your ground. Democratic freedom is not a gift from any government. It is your right. Do not allow anyone to intimidate you,” he said.
Atiku added that the ADC would stand with officers who refused to be used against democracy.
“Those who choose to betray their duty and collude in suppression of political freedom will be held accountable under law. Nigeria belongs to its people, not to any party or temporary occupant of power,” he said.