Thousands of ADC supporters defy Sokoto government, forcefully reopen sealed campaign office

By Ishaya Ibrahim

Thousands of African Democratic Congress (ADC) supporters on Tuesday stormed the party’s campaign office in Sokoto State, which had been sealed by the state government, and forcefully reopened it.

The government had sealed the office on Monday, ahead of the party’s presidential campaign rally flag-off in Sokoto on Wednesday, November 4. It said the action was taken to protect lives and property following a recent disturbance involving party supporters and some miscreants.

The government also raised concerns over the ownership documents of the property, claiming that they were irregular and that official records showed it belonged to the defunct Savannah Bank.

READ ALSO: Sokoto govt seals ADC campaign office hours before presidential rally

The state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho, who announced the sealing of the building on Monday, said the government had reviewed the available documents relating to the property and discovered that it was originally owned by the defunct Savannah Bank, with no official change of ownership reflected in government records.

However, in what appeared to be a show of force, thousands of ADC supporters stormed the sealed campaign office, occupied the premises and forcefully reopened it.

The supporters turned the area into a carnival-like gathering, with loud music blaring as the crowd celebrated.