The Sokoto State Government has sealed the campaign office of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid growing political tension in the state.
The government said the decision was taken following a recent disturbance involving supporters of the opposition party and some suspected miscreants.
It maintained that the action was necessary to prevent further violence and protect lives and property.
The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho, announced the development on Monday.
He explained that the government had also raised questions about the ownership of the building after reviewing available property documents.
According to the commissioner, preliminary findings showed that the property originally belonged to the defunct Savannah Bank.
He claimed that the government could not establish any official transfer of ownership in the records available to the relevant authorities.
Dantsoho said the state government had contacted the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), which he identified as the custodian of the property, to obtain clarification regarding its present ownership.
However, he disclosed that the corporation had yet to respond to the government’s inquiry.
“Following a review of the certificate of occupancy and other relevant documents, we discovered that this property belongs to the Savannah Bank, and that ownership has not changed as of today.
“We have written to the NDIC, the custodian of this building, to clarify its present ownership, but we are yet to receive a response,” he said.
The commissioner explained that the decision to seal the premises was taken while the government awaited an official response from the NDIC.
He maintained that allowing activities to continue at the property without resolving the ownership question could create further complications, particularly given the recent security concerns surrounding the facility.
He insisted that the government was acting to prevent another disturbance and ensure that the situation did not escalate into a wider security problem.
Dantsoho also addressed individuals or organisations claiming ownership of the building, urging them to approach the state government with relevant documents to establish their claims.
He said such documents would be examined and verified by the appropriate authorities.
Once the ownership question had been properly resolved, the property could be released to whoever was legally entitled to it.
The commissioner, however, maintained that the premises would remain under the control of the state government until the matter was settled.
He further warned against any attempt to gain access to the sealed building through force, saying anyone who violated the government’s directive would face legal consequences.
According to him, the authorities would not tolerate actions capable of undermining the security measures put in place around the property.
The sealing of the ADC campaign office comes at a time of heightened political tension in Sokoto State, particularly following allegations of confrontations involving supporters of the opposition party and operatives of a state-owned security outfit.
The latest action by the Sokoto Government could therefore have implications for the party’s political activities in the state, especially if the premises remain inaccessible while the ownership dispute is being investigated.
However, the commissioner’s explanation centred on two major issues: the recent security disturbance and questions surrounding the legal ownership of the building.
Dantsoho has maintained that the state government is prepared to release the building once the necessary verification has been completed. Until then, he said, the premises would remain sealed.
