Sokoto Govt Denies Venue, Hotels to ADC Ahead of Atiku’s Visit

*Party Shifts Rally*

By Our Correspondent

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State has alleged that the state government denied the party access to venues and hotel accommodations ahead of the planned visit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the state.

A party source told Hotpen that all efforts by the ADC leadership to secure a public venue and hotel reservations for the event were frustrated by state actors acting on orders from above.

According to the source, owners of event centres and major hotels in Sokoto metropolis who had earlier agreed to host the party visitors suddenly turned down the bookings, citing pressure from the government.

The development forced the party to shift its gathering, earlier scheduled for Saturday 31 October, to Wednesday to enable it to make alternative arrangements.

“The government is trying to stifle opposition, they denied us access to the venue and even accommodation for our guests. This is undemocratic,” the source alleged.

Atiku Abubakar, who is a key figure in the opposition coalition, is expected to meet with ADC stakeholders, youth groups and other political actors during his visit to Sokoto to possibly flags off his 2027 Presidential campaign.

The ADC said despite the setback, arrangements have been concluded to receive the former Vice President and that the visit will go on as planned on Wednesday.

An ADC chieftain, Abdullahi Yusuf Hausawa, has confirmed that the party officially sought permission from the Sokoto State Government to secure a venue and hotel accommodations ahead of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s visit, but the request was vehemently rejected.

Hausawa, a former commissioner under ex-Governor Aminu Tambuwal, described the action as sabotage, undemocratic and a sign of fear of losing elections.

“It is the same government bragging that there is no opposition presence in the state and that they will win the election peacefully,” he said.

According to him, the state government threatened hotel owners in Sokoto not to provide accommodation for ADC members and guests.

“They threatened hotel owners not to give out accommodation for ADC, saying any hotel that sells out rooms will be sanctioned, and the venue for the event was equally denied,” he alleged.

“What we are saying are not allegations but the truth with facts. How can the state government claim it has occupied all hotels in Sokoto without organizing any function?” he queried.

The ADC chieftain insisted that the action of the government is an attempt to stifle opposition voices in the state.

As of the time of filing this report, the Sokoto State Government is yet to respond to the allegation, efforts to get the reaction of the Sokoto State Government proved abortive.