Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the leadership of the State Security Service, SSS, of recruiting protesters to disrupt the African Democratic Congress, ADC, campaign rally in Sokoto State.
Mr Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, alleged that the planned protests were part of an attempt to create disorder, provide a justification for imposing a curfew and ultimately prevent the party’s campaign from holding as scheduled.
He made the allegations while addressing journalists, where he also accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of using state institutions to frustrate opposition parties and undermine democratic competition.
According to him, public facilities that should be accessible to political parties for legitimate campaign activities had been blocked, while logistical support for the ADC rally had allegedly been withheld.
He described the development as a calculated attempt to deny the opposition a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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.
The former vice president claimed that some of the protesters had assembled at an office behind Zenith Bank on Koko Road, from where trucks were allegedly being dispatched to strategic locations, including a roundabout.
He further alleged that the protesters were causing traffic congestion, threatening commuters and assaulting some residents.
“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,” he said.
Atiku described the alleged involvement of security operatives in the mobilisation of protesters as political interference, urging officers involved to desist from actions capable of undermining public confidence in security institutions.
“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,” he said.
He called on the DSS leadership to ensure that its personnel remained politically neutral and discharged their responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution.
Atiku also accused the Tinubu administration of devoting more attention to weakening opposition parties than addressing the country’s economic challenges.
He alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had adopted a strategy of political absorption and intimidation, including attracting former opposition figures into its fold, to narrow the space for political competition.
According to him, the development was aimed at gradually turning Nigeria into a one-party state.
The ADC presidential candidate said the administration should instead be concerned about the rising cost of living, which he said had left millions of Nigerians struggling to afford basic necessities.
“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.
“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,” he said.
Atiku promised that an ADC government would introduce measures to reduce the cost of living, stimulate local production, strengthen food security and create employment opportunities.
He specifically proposed a targeted production subsidy tied to fuel refined in Nigeria, saying the policy would provide measurable relief to consumers while supporting domestic industries.
“I will make life affordable again. We will support local production, strengthen food production, create jobs and reduce the cost of doing business,” he said.