The incident occurred around the Sokoto Airport at about 9 pm on Friday, October 30, shortly after Dan’iya escorted former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the airport. According to Dan’iya's media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, security personnel blocked his convoy and prevented it from passing, allegedly acting on orders from above to stop ADC members from entering Sokoto.
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. 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. The ADC candidate further alleged that earlier in the day, personnel of the security outfits had been deployed at entry points into the state.
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 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.
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, questioned the credibility of the account, particularly the claim that personnel of the state security outfits detained DSS officers and interfered with their vehicles.
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. Hayatu stressed that security agencies had a critical role to play in containing the situation by remaining neutral.
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.
Hayatu 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. He urged political stakeholders to take the warning signs seriously and allow political parties to operate freely and enjoy a level playing field to prevent existing tensions from escalating.
Key points
- The African Democratic Congress and All Progressives Congress have traded blame following an attack on the convoy of the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya.
- The incident has raised concerns about the growing tension between political parties in some states, which could degenerate into widespread violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- A political scientist has warned that Nigeria is an increasingly fragile polity, and the addition of political violence could further destabilise the country.
