Thousands of supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday thronged parts of Sokoto State to welcome former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, triggering heavy traffic congestion ahead of the party’s presidential campaign flag-off for the 2027 general election.
The massive turnout brought movement across parts of the state capital to a near standstill, as supporters gathered along major roads to catch a glimpse of the former vice-president and express their support for his presidential ambition.
Atiku arrived at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto at about 1pm on Wednesday, accompanied by members of his campaign team.
He was received by prominent ADC figures, including his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi; former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and other party leaders.
The crowd reportedly caused significant delays along routes leading to the campaign venue, with what would ordinarily have been a journey of about 10 minutes taking considerably longer.
An ADC supporter in Sokoto, Aminu Dan Balki, told our correspondent that Atiku arrived in the early afternoon but struggled to make his way through the massive crowd, with the congestion reportedly delaying his movement until the evening.
The development comes amid heightened political activities in Sokoto ahead of the ADC’s campaign launch, which is expected to strengthen the party’s mobilisation efforts in the North-West.
However, the large turnout came against the backdrop of rising political tension between the ADC and the Sokoto State Government.
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The opposition party had accused the state government of frustrating its campaign preparations, including the alleged sealing of its state campaign office and attempts to restrict access to public facilities.
The ADC had also raised concerns over alleged pressure on hotel operators to cancel accommodation arrangements made for party delegates and supporters travelling to Sokoto for the event.
The party’s presidential campaign committee had earlier confirmed that it was taking security precautions following reports of possible attempts to disrupt the rally.
Atiku had also accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of allegedly mobilising protesters to create disorder and provide grounds for the state government to impose a curfew that could prevent the campaign from holding.
The former vice-president, however, urged his supporters to remain peaceful, warning them against allowing anyone to provoke them into violence.
The DSS subsequently rejected the allegation, describing it as surprising. The agency maintained that its operatives had been providing security for political actors, including ADC members.
It also disclosed that two of its personnel were injured while protecting the party’s Sokoto governorship candidate, Mannir Dan’iya, during an alleged mob attack on October 31.
The agency said its Director-General had ordered an investigation into Atiku’s allegations.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Police Command had assured the ADC of adequate security ahead of the campaign flag-off.
The police spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed that the command received an official request from the rally organisers and that the Commissioner of Police had directed the deployment of personnel to provide security.
The command also assured the party that it would be allowed to carry out its political activities without intimidation.
Meanwhile, reports circulating about two people allegedly being shot by suspected Sokoto local security personnel could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
No reliable confirmation was available regarding the identities of the alleged victims, their conditions or the circumstances surrounding the reported incident.
The allegation should therefore be treated with caution pending confirmation from the police or other relevant security authorities.
The development adds another layer of tension to the ADC’s political activities in Sokoto as opposition parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
