Just In: Atiku Accuses DSS Of Recruiting Protesters To Disrupt ADC’s Presidential Campaign Flag Off In Sokoto

The Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has accused the leadership of the Department of State Services (DSS) of recruiting protesters to disrupt the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto.

Atiku made the allegation on Tuesday in a press statement delivered ahead of the ADC’s presidential campaign flag-off scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, in Sokoto.

Addressing journalists, Atiku said what was unfolding in Sokoto was beyond ordinary political competition, describing it as a calculated campaign to frustrate the ADC and deny Nigerians freedom of choice.

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“I address you today with a heavy but resolute heart. What is unfolding in Sokoto is not ordinary political competition. It is a calculated campaign to frustrate the African Democratic Congress, obstruct our campaign and deny Nigerians the freedom to choose,” he said.

He alleged that public facilities that should be available to all political parties had been blocked and logistical support withheld, describing the actions as deliberate attempts to deny the ADC a level playing field.

Atiku further alleged that the DSS was behind the mobilisation of protesters to cause disorder.

“More disturbing still, the information available to us is that the leadership of the Department of State Services is recruiting people to stage protests in Sokoto. The objective is to create disorder, give the APC controlled state government a pretext to impose a curfew and prevent our campaign take off from holding as scheduled,” he said.

“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 the roundabout. These mobilised protesters are causing gridlock. Commuters are being threatened and, in some cases, beaten. Some of the protesters have moved away from the roundabout to find shade.”

The former vice president said the development amounted to political interference by a security agency.

“This is not intelligence work. It is political interference dressed in official uniform. Security agencies exist to protect Nigerians and uphold the law, not to recruit protesters or help a political party manufacture a crisis. I call on every officer involved to stop immediately and return to the constitutional duty of impartial service,” he said.

Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu administration of devoting more energy to weakening credible opposition than to solving national problems, alleging a plot to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.

“For three and a half years, the Tinubu administration has devoted too much energy to weakening credible opposition and too little to solving the problems facing Nigerians. It has pursued a politics of absorption and intimidation, while drawing former opposition figures into the APC and narrowing the space for political competition. The aim is to reduce Nigeria to a 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.

“The government is afraid of the people’s verdict. It has unleashed a crushing cost of living crisis and now appears determined to frustrate Nigerians’ democratic right to choose a different path. 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 the record this government should be defending before the people, instead of trying to stop a rally,” Atiku said.

The ADC presidential candidate promised to make life affordable again if elected.

“I will make life affordable again. We will support local production, strengthen food production, create jobs and reduce the cost of doing business. We will pursue a targeted production subsidy tied to fuel refined in Nigeria, so that support reaches consumers through measurable relief while also strengthening domestic industry. Nigerians deserve policies that put food on the table, restore opportunity and make daily life manageable again,” he said.

He said the APC had not recovered from what he described as the failure of its last rally in Kaduna, and should see it as a sign that Nigerians were withdrawing confidence.

“The APC has still not recovered from the abysmal failure of its last rally in Kaduna. It should have taken that as a warning that Nigerians are withdrawing their confidence. Instead, it has chosen intimidation and obstruction. These are the last kicks of a dying horse. The more this government tries to silence the people, the clearer it becomes that it has already lost their confidence,” he said.

Atiku described the 2027 general election as a defining moment, saying it was a choice between a government that had shown indifference to people’s suffering and Nigerians who want their votes to count.

“The 2027 general election will be a defining moment in our democratic history. This is more than a contest between parties or candidates. It is a choice between a government that has shown indifference to people’s suffering and Nigerians who have endured enough and want their votes to count,” he said.

He vowed that the ADC would not be intimidated, insisting the rally would hold.

“The ADC will resist every gimmick, administrative roadblock and underhand manoeuvre designed to exclude the opposition or impose a one party reality on Nigeria. We will not be intimidated into silence or irrelevance. Our campaign will proceed, and I will be in Sokoto tomorrow, God willing, to address the good people of the state,” Atiku declared.

He called on Sokoto residents to remain calm and urged security agencies to act impartially.

“I call on the people of Sokoto to remain calm and peaceful. Do not allow anyone to provoke you or turn a political gathering into a security crisis. I also urge the security agencies to protect commuters, residents and rally participants without favour. The authorities must ensure that our rally can hold peacefully and without interference.

“To the 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 or checkmate your will.

“As the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, I give you my word: I will lead this campaign and I will not abandon the field. We will confront every attempt to restrict democratic participation with firmness, organisation and faith in the Nigerian people.

“The ADC will stand with officers who refuse to be used against democracy and who remain faithful to the Constitution. Those who choose to betray their duty and collude in the suppression of political freedom will be held accountable under the law.

“Nigeria belongs to its people, not to any party or temporary occupant of power. We will defend that truth and the people’s right to choose,” he added.