2027 Politics Watch: From Sokoto ultimatum to conflicting ₦50,000 relief terms, Saturday’s roundup

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

On Saturday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gave security authorities in Sokoto 24 hours to act over an alleged attack on its governorship candidate. Meanwhile, police in Ekiti announced the arrest of 11 suspects following a separate incident involving African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.

ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar condemned both incidents, as his son, Abba, separately pledged 10 buses to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Elsewhere, two official government publications gave conflicting descriptions of a proposed ₦50,000 cash relief programme: one promised monthly payments, while the other described a one-off grant.

The discrepancy emerged as opposition parties questioned the programme’s timing, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) outlined preparations for the 2027 elections.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council demanded action within 24 hours against Sokoto Marshals personnel accused of attacking the convoy of its governorship candidate, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya.

In Saturday’s statement, signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council alleged that the personnel damaged vehicles, including the candidate’s sport utility vehicle, and detained two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives attached to him.

“This is not governance. It is banditry in uniform, and it must not be tolerated in a democracy,” the council said.

The ADC alleged that two Department of State Services operatives attached to the candidate were detained during the confrontation. The allegation has not been independently confirmed by the DSS, while Sokoto police say they are investigating the incident.

It demanded the operatives’ release, the arrest of those responsible and an investigation, warning that it would pursue further lawful steps if the authorities failed to act.

Mr Dan’iya said the confrontation occurred near Sokoto Airport at about 9 p.m. on Friday, 30 October, after he accompanied former Governor Aminu Tambuwal to the airport. However, some reports quoting the ADC Presidential Campaign Council’s subsequent statement placed the incident on Thursday. The discrepancy has not been resolved.

He accused personnel of the Sokoto Marshals and the state Community Guard of blocking his convoy and firing shots.

The Sokoto APC rejected the allegations. Its chairman, Haruna Adiya, said the security deployments were linked to preparations for a traditional title conferment ceremony, disputing claims that personnel had been deployed to restrict opposition activities.

Sokoto police spokesperson Ahmed Rufai said the command was investigating the reported confrontation.

Mr Tambuwal called for an impartial inquiry and urged supporters to remain calm. He said the ADC would proceed with its presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto on 4 November.

Mr Atiku also demanded investigations into the Sokoto incident and Friday’s reported attack on Mr Sowore at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti.

In Ekiti, police announced the arrest of 11 suspects on Saturday in connection with the incident.

Police spokesperson Abutu Sunday said officers arrested the suspects in Atikankan at about 10 p.m. on Friday and were investigating their individual roles and possible links to the confrontation.

The AAC rejected the police’s earlier description of an altercation, alleged government involvement and demanded an independent inquiry and the release of CCTV footage.

The police statement did not identify a political sponsor or establish the arrested persons’ responsibility.

In Sokoto, the reported detention of DSS operatives remains unconfirmed by the agency. The police investigation has also not established whether security personnel acted unlawfully or on political instructions.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan warned on Saturday that attacks on election officials, including National Youth Service Corps members, would attract legal action.

At a South-South readiness meeting in Port Harcourt, he said the commission was working with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to protect voters, personnel and election materials.

He also warned staff against partisanship, negligence and financial misconduct.

Mr Amupitan said INEC was preparing its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, including 57,000 newly procured devices, and auditing electronic results management systems.

For riverine communities, he said the commission had finalised an agreement with maritime transporters to move personnel and materials.

He put the South-South’s registered voters at 15,823,550, including 3,736,434 in Rivers State, and warned against disenfranchisement through operational failures.

The chairman said the general elections would hold as scheduled, amid opposition concerns that problems with election preparations could provide grounds for postponement.

Questions about the preliminary voters’ register remain unresolved.

On Friday, INEC ICT Director Lawrence Bayode acknowledged that registration officers had introduced irregular records, prompting demands for an independent forensic audit and identification of those responsible.

As PREMIUM TIMES reported in Friday’s roundup, INEC promised corrections before releasing the final register on 15 December.

The commission’s account of Saturday’s meeting did not announce an independent forensic audit.

Although the reported confrontations involving opposition politicians and INEC’s preparations involve different circumstances, both have highlighted the responsibilities of security agencies during the electoral process.

Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, unveiled the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation at a Friday press conference in Abuja, reported on Saturday.

He pledged 10 luxury buses for transport and campaign mobilisation, beginning in the Federal Capital Territory.

Abba also announced plans for a two-million-person mobilisation march across the six geopolitical zones, starting in Abuja.

He cited student loans, infrastructure investments and other government interventions as reasons for supporting President Tinubu.

“Political conviction is a matter of personal judgement, conscience and the freedom of every individual to make independent choices,” he said.

Abba joined the APC and endorsed Mr Tinubu in January.

His latest announcement concerned campaign mobilisation rather than a new defection. The buses were pledged, but reports did not confirm they had been delivered.

Separately, a faction of the ADC led by Nafiu Gombe announced a North-West campaign council following a Friday meeting in Sokoto.

Factional spokesperson Christopher Okechukwu said on Saturday that Nuradeen Lawal Chindo would chair the council, with Bello Shehu as secretary.

Bala Sani Kumo, identified as the faction’s deputy campaign director-general for the North, presided over the inauguration.

The faction said the council would coordinate its activities across the seven North-West states.

The ADC leadership headed by David Mark is campaigning for Mr Atiku. The party’s competing leadership claims have been litigated. before

The faction’s announcement did not establish INEC recognition of the new council or any change to the party’s existing presidential nomination.

Two official government publications give different accounts of how frequently eligible Nigerians will receive payments under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI). In his 30 October announcement, Humanitarian Affairs Minister Bernard Doro said eligible households would receive ₦50,000 monthly. However, the programme’s official FAQ describes the payment as one-off assistance. The government has not clarified which schedule applies.

The FAQ says beneficiaries are selected through verified records, including the National Social Register.

The distinction matters for households assessing the support available to them and for determining the government’s total financial commitment.

Against that uncertainty, the ADC and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) separately accused the administration of using the intervention to seek electoral support.

ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi described it as an election gimmick, questioned whether the payment was adequate against household expenses, and asked why comparable assistance had not accompanied the administration’s earlier economic reforms.

He also sought accountability for previous interventions, arguing that fresh announcements did not resolve questions about their implementation.

In an interview with LEADERSHIP, APM spokesperson Abubakar Yusuf called the initiative vote-buying and alleged that earlier obligations to N-Power beneficiaries remained unpaid.

He nevertheless advised eligible Nigerians to accept assistance and make independent voting decisions.

The government says the initiative aims to provide immediate support to vulnerable households facing economic hardship. The opposition’s allegations about electoral motives have not been established.

Beyond the conflicting payment descriptions, questions remain about funding, beneficiary verification, and safeguards against political interference.

In Imo State, the Renewed Hope Foot Soldiers for Tinubu warned that the senatorial dispute between Governor Hope Uzodimma and former Governor Rochas Okorocha could weaken APC unity and affect the president’s re-election campaign in the South-east.

The group, led by Gbenga Owojori, also argued that Mr Uzodimma should have a fair opportunity to pursue his Senate ambition.

Its intervention followed a Federal High Court ruling directing the APC to submit Mr Okorocha’s name for Imo West.

Mr Uzodimma’s camp had announced plans to challenge the judgement. The group’s statement did not establish that an appeal had been filed or that the ruling had been stayed.

In Bayelsa, officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC disagreed over Governor Douye Diri’s support for Mr Tinubu.

PDP Chairman George Turnah questioned Mr Diri’s participation in the president’s campaign activities.

APC Chairman Warman Weri Ogoriba rejected the criticism, saying the governor had demonstrated his support through public engagements.

Mr Turnah had said on Friday that Sandy Onor remained the PDP’s presidential candidate, even as the party backed Mr Tinubu through the Rainbow Coalition.

The competing endorsements have therefore not been accompanied by an announced withdrawal of Mr Onor’s candidacy.