A confrontation between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State has led to accusations of an attack on the convoy of Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan'iya, the ADC governorship candidate. According to Dan'iya, his convoy was blocked and attacked by personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard around the Sokoto Airport at 9pm on Friday, October 30. The incident occurred shortly after he escorted former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the airport for his return to Abuja.
Dan'iya alleged that the security personnel claimed they were acting on orders from above to stop ADC members from entering Sokoto. During the confrontation, gunshots were fired, his vehicle was damaged, and two Department of State Services (DSS) officers attached to his security team were detained. The ADC candidate 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. Dan'iya urged the security agencies to ensure the release of the two DSS officers if they remained in custody and called on the state government to clarify the alleged instructions given to the security personnel.
However, the APC has 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, questioned the credibility of the account, particularly the claim that personnel of the state security outfits detained DSS officers and interfered with their vehicles.
Adiya 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.
Adiya maintained that the deployment of security personnel was aimed at protecting residents and visitors attending the ceremony and had nothing to do with the political activities of the ADC. He urged the opposition party to address its internal challenges rather than blame the APC and the state government for its political difficulties, and to focus on presenting policies and development plans to the electorate.
Key points
- The incident has sparked a heated exchange between the two parties, with the APC dismissing the allegations as fabricated and the ADC calling for an investigation.
- The ADC governorship candidate, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan'iya, alleged that his convoy was attacked by state-owned security personnel.
- The state government has been urged to clarify the alleged instructions given to the security personnel and to ensure the release of the detained DSS officers.
