Former Sokoto State governor and prominent African Democratic Congress chieftain, Aminu Tambuwal, has vehemently denounced the reported aggression directed at the party's governorship flagbearer in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, alongside members of his travelling entourage.
Disclosing the development via a public statement on his official X profile on Saturday, Tambuwal specified that the incident transpired in the vicinity of the Sokoto Airport on Friday, October 30, 2026. According to his account, operatives belonging to the Sokoto Marshal and the Sokoto State Community Guard obstructed Dan’iya’s procession, discharged firearms, vandalised his automobile, and unlawfully held two operatives of the Department of State Services assigned to his protection detail.
Expressing grave concern over the confrontation, Tambuwal appealed to the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, and other principal security institutions to launch an immediate, comprehensive, and unbiased inquiry to ensure accountability for all individuals found culpable.
What are the fundamental rights of political actors?
Emphasizing the foundational tenets of democracy, Tambuwal noted that every citizen possesses the legal entitlement to freedom of movement, political association, and participation in electoral processes without facing intimidation or physical endangerment. He admonished individuals harbouring political disagreements to channel their grievances through lawful and peaceful avenues rather than resorting to violence, stressing that the electorate should be allowed to express their preferences through the ballot box.
Furthermore, the former governor cautioned that regional security formations hold a mandatory obligation to safeguard all residents impartially, warning against their potential misuse as instruments of political coercion. He called upon the Sokoto State Government to ensure that all security architectures under its jurisdiction operate strictly within the confines of the law.
Tambuwal also maintained that the scheduled ADC presidential campaign inauguration, slated for November 4, 2026, would proceed as planned despite the recent hostilities, reiterating the party's steadfast commitment to democratic principles and peaceful engagement while urging supporters to maintain composure and steadfastness.