The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded blame following an attack on the convoy of the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya.
Dan’iya had alleged that personnel of the Marshal and Community Guard, state-owned security outfits, attacked his convoy around the Sokoto Airport at about 9 pm on Friday, October 30, shortly after he escorted former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the airport.
The ADC candidate, in a statement by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, claimed that security personnel blocked his convoy and prevented it from passing, allegedly acting on orders from above to stop ADC members from entering Sokoto.
He alleged that gunshots were fired during the confrontation, his vehicle was damaged, and two Department of State Services (DSS) officers attached to his security team were detained.
Dan’iya described the incident as a threat to his life and called on the police, the DSS and other relevant authorities to investigate the matter and establish those responsible.
The ADC candidate further alleged that earlier in the day, personnel of the security outfits had been deployed at entry points into the state, where vehicles bearing ADC inscriptions were reportedly stopped from entering.
The Director-General of the ADC campaign council, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the alleged attack on Dan’iya.
Goronyo, in a statement, described the incident as a threat to the safety of the party’s governorship candidate and members of his entourage.
He maintained that no governor, political party or security commander had the authority to prevent citizens from entering a state because of their political affiliation.
The ADC director-general also accused the state government of allegedly deploying public security resources for partisan activities, arguing that security personnel should concentrate on addressing banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges facing communities.
However, the APC dismissed the allegations, describing them as fabricated claims intended to attract public sympathy and divert attention from the ADC’s political challenges.
The state APC Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Adiya, said the allegations were part of what he described as a propaganda campaign against the state government.
Adiya, in a statement, questioned the credibility of the account, particularly the claim that personnel of the state security outfits detained DSS officers and interfered with their vehicles.
He also faulted what he described as inconsistencies in the ADC’s account of the incident, arguing that while the party’s media aide reportedly claimed that security personnel prevented Dan’iya from entering Sokoto metropolis, the candidate’s statement indicated that he had visited different locations in the city to pay condolence visits and attend to other engagements.
The APC chairman also dismissed claims that security personnel were deployed to restrict ADC members from entering the state, explaining that Sokoto was preparing to host a major traditional title conferment ceremony scheduled for Sunday.
He said the event was expected to attract prominent personalities and visitors from different parts of the country, making adequate security arrangements necessary.
Analyst condemns attack
Speaking on the issue, Dr Aminu Hayatu, a political scientist at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), said the growing tension between political parties in some states was being fuelled by alleged attempts to suppress opposition activities.
He warned that the situation could degenerate into widespread violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said although heightened political tension was expected as the country moved closer to another election, the pattern of developments in some states over the past month suggested that the situation required serious attention.
He said the alleged restrictions, which he claimed were deliberately targeted and controlled by actors within the ruling party, had deepened opposition grievances over the political environment ahead of the elections.
According to him, the growing frustration had also contributed to retaliatory actions by opposition supporters, who sometimes resorted to tearing down ruling party banners whenever they sighted APC members or their campaign activities.
He warned that the situation could trigger more political violence as the election approached and potentially worsen during the polls if urgent steps were not taken.
Hayatu said security agencies had a critical role to play in containing the situation.
He, however, stressed that they could only do so by remaining neutral and resisting attempts by political actors to use them as instruments of intimidation or suppression.
He said the perceived involvement of security operatives in actions against opposition parties could further undermine confidence in the electoral process.
He argued that political parties must be allowed to operate freely and enjoy a level playing field to prevent existing tensions from escalating and threatening the conduct of free and fair elections.
Hayatu said suspicions that the ruling party was attempting to influence the electoral process had also contributed to the growing political hostility, noting that civil society organisations had raised concerns about the situation.
He urged political stakeholders to take the warning signs seriously.
He described Nigeria as an increasingly fragile polity, already grappling with economic difficulties and persistent security challenges, saying the addition of political violence could further destabilise the country.
The political scientist said the violence witnessed in Sokoto reflected what had been happening quietly in some parts of the North, warning that the situation could spread to other states if left unchecked.