“No court order was shown, no notice was served, and no lawful reason has been given,” the statement said.
The party insisted that it had operated openly from the premises for more than eight years, dismissing any suggestion that the authorities were unaware of its occupation of the building.
“The ADC has operated openly from those premises for more than eight years. A government genuinely interested in the ownership or occupation of a building would write and ask. It would not send armed officers to lock the doors of its opponents on the eve of a campaign,” it stated.
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The opposition party alleged that the closure was part of a pattern of actions aimed at frustrating its political activities in the state, recalling the alleged attack on its governorship candidate, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, at the Sultan Sadiq Abubakar International Airport four days earlier.
It further accused the state government of responding to the party’s growing support with intimidation rather than political engagement.
“The Sokoto State Government is alarmed by the growing, organic support for the ADC and its candidates across the state, and it has chosen to answer that support with force instead of argument,” the statement added.
The ADC vowed to pursue all legitimate legal remedies to secure the reopening of its office and protect its members, supporters and property.
It also held the state government and the police command responsible for any breach of peace that might follow the incident.
Beyond demanding the reopening of the office, the party urged the police chief to remind the Sokoto State Command of its responsibility to maintain political neutrality.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police to direct the immediate unsealing of our premises and to remind the Sokoto State Command that its duty under the law is to protect every party equally, not to serve one,” it said.
The party also appealed to civil society organisations, election observers and the international community to demand explanations from the Sokoto State Government and the police.
It specifically called on the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and other international partners to take note of what it described as actions undermining democratic governance in the state.
“Democracy in Sokoto will not be locked away. The people of Sokoto will be heard,” the statement declared.
