ADC says overwhelming turnout at Atiku’s Sokoto rally reflects public frustration with hardship, alleges intimidation and shooting of supporters.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was greeted by an overwhelming crowd of supporters in Sokoto as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagged off its presidential campaign, with the party describing the massive turnout as a demonstration of growing public dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, thousands of supporters lined the route from Sultan Muhammad III International Airport to the party’s state secretariat, bringing parts of the city to a standstill as they welcomed Atiku and accompanied his convoy to the rally venue.
The campaign council said the procession was so large that Atiku’s motorcade took approximately three and a half hours to reach the venue, with men, women and young people joining the gathering.
In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the council described the reception as an expression of public anger over rising living costs, economic hardship and the government’s policies.
Shaibu said residents abandoned their daily activities, while some workers left their offices to participate in the procession and attend the rally.
He insisted that the crowd had gathered voluntarily, rejecting suggestions that supporters were mobilised through financial inducements.
“When you have a message that connects with the people, you do not need to rent a crowd. The people show up on their own,” Shaibu stated.
The campaign spokesperson maintained that the reception reflected growing support for the ADC’s promise to address the cost-of-living crisis and restore economic opportunities.
He said Nigerians struggling with rising food prices, transportation costs, fuel expenses and other basic necessities had turned out to demonstrate their desire for political change.
The campaign council also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Sokoto State Government of attempting to frustrate the rally by denying the ADC access to public facilities requested for the campaign flag-off.
Shaibu alleged that additional obstacles were placed in the way of the party’s campaign activities, but insisted that the restrictions had failed to discourage supporters.
He argued that denying opposition parties access to public facilities could not prevent Nigerians from exercising their political choices.
According to him, the alleged attempts to obstruct the rally instead strengthened public determination to participate.
The allegations against the Sokoto State Government were not accompanied by a response from state officials in the supplied account.
At the rally, Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to addressing Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis, with the campaign council outlining proposals aimed at reducing energy costs and supporting domestic production.
Shaibu said Atiku’s economic programme included a targeted, production-based subsidy for qualifying petroleum products refined in Nigeria.
He explained that linking subsidies to domestic refining would help reduce fuel costs and ease the pressure of transportation and energy expenses on food prices and household budgets.
“The ADC message is clear: Nigerians deserve a government that makes life more affordable, supports local production and responds to the hardship people face every day,” Shaibu said.
The campaign council maintained that the proposed measures formed part of the party’s broader commitment to improving economic conditions and supporting Nigerian businesses.
Meanwhile, the ADC urged Nigerians to draw lessons from Tuesday’s midterm elections in the United States, arguing that voters could use elections to hold governments accountable for unpopular policies and economic hardship.
In a separate statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the American election outcome as a reminder that political power ultimately belonged to citizens rather than elected officials or ruling parties.
“Americans have shown that when politicians become arrogant, when policies punish ordinary people, and when those in power mistake popularity for a permanent licence to govern, the ballot box remains the ultimate instrument of accountability,” the party stated.
The ADC argued that Nigerians should adopt a similar approach in the 2027 general election by prioritising their economic welfare, security and employment opportunities when choosing political leaders.
“American voters understand something Nigerians must also learn: elections are about the welfare of the citizens, not sentiments, political loyalties or personality cults. No leader is bigger than the people, and no political party is entitled to power forever,” the statement added.
The opposition party accused the Tinubu administration of presiding over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and declining opportunities, insisting that Nigerians should use their votes to demand a change in leadership.
“We cannot continue to complain about the cost of living while voting for a president who has made life unaffordable. We cannot demand security while rewarding failure,” the ADC stated.
It urged voters to participate actively in the 2027 elections, promoting its campaign message of making Nigeria affordable and safe while creating employment opportunities.
“History beckons in 2027. Our voters’ cards must become instruments of change, not souvenirs of citizenship. Nigerians must turn out massively and vote for their own interests,” the party said.
The Sokoto rally was, however, overshadowed by allegations that two suspected ADC supporters were shot by operatives of the Sokoto State Community Guards along the Sokoto–Wurno Road while travelling to the campaign event.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred after community guards allegedly barricaded the road connecting Sokoto metropolis with the eastern part of the state and ordered vehicles transporting supporters to turn back.
Witnesses alleged that an altercation between the guards and occupants of one of the vehicles escalated into a shooting, leaving two people with gunshot injuries.
The injured persons were reportedly taken to a hospital for medical attention.
A source claimed that the intervention of Civilian Joint Task Force personnel accompanying the convoy of Senator Ibrahim Lamido, coordinator of the Sokoto State ADC Presidential Campaign Council, eventually allowed vehicles to proceed through the checkpoint.
The allegations followed earlier accusations that community guards had attacked the ADC governorship candidate, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto.
However, the Sokoto State Police Command said it had not received information confirming the reported shooting.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, stated that the police were unable to verify the incident because it had not been formally brought to their attention.
The alleged shooting and claims of obstruction have raised concerns about the security of political gatherings and the need to ensure that campaign activities are conducted without intimidation or violence.
Despite the reported incidents, the ADC maintained that the turnout in Sokoto demonstrated the strength of its support and growing public interest in its political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
