Thousands of supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, trooped out in Sokoto State to welcome former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, as the party officially launched its presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The supporters gathered at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, where Atiku arrived at about 1pm, chanting “Tinubu Must Go” and “Atiku Is Coming” while waving ADC flags and campaign posters.
Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, arrived in Sokoto ahead of Atiku and joined other party leaders to welcome the presidential candidate.
Those present included former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, ADC leaders and other party chieftains.
The crowd continued to grow as Atiku’s convoy moved from the airport towards the ADC state secretariat along Ilorin Road, where the campaign flag-off was scheduled to take place.
The massive turnout caused heavy traffic across parts of the city, with supporters lining the roads to catch a glimpse of the former vice president and his entourage.
According to ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, the journey from the airport to the rally venue, a distance of less than 10 kilometres, took more than three hours because of the large crowd.
The rally, tagged Northern Hurricane, attracted party members and supporters from different parts of Sokoto State and beyond.
At the campaign event, Atiku promised to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027, saying his administration would take steps to reduce the hardship caused by rising petrol prices.
He said his government would restore subsidy on fuel and work to make life more affordable for Nigerians.
“I will open all the land borders for our people to do legitimate business with our brothers across the border. We will restore subsidy back into our fuel and do everything humanly possible to bring an end to insecurity so as to ensure our people can go back to our farms,” Atiku said.
He also promised to reopen Nigeria’s land borders for legitimate trade, tackle insecurity and reduce the cost of pilgrimage for both Muslim and Christian faithful.
The former vice president said his administration would support local production, strengthen food production, create jobs and reduce the cost of doing business.
Atiku also promised to take action against banditry and other security threats, insisting that farmers must be able to return to their farms without fear of attacks.
He urged Nigerians to vote for the ADC in 2027 and protect their votes to ensure that every ballot was properly counted and announced.
The campaign launch came amid political tension and allegations of attempts to frustrate the ADC’s activities in Sokoto.
Before the rally, Atiku accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of allegedly recruiting protesters to disrupt the party’s campaign and create an excuse for the state government to impose a curfew.
He also accused the Sokoto State Government of denying the opposition party access to public facilities and making its campaign preparations difficult.
The DSS rejected the allegation and ordered an investigation. The agency maintained that its operatives had provided security assistance to political figures across party lines.
It also referred to an October 31 incident in which its operatives reportedly rescued the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto, Manir Dan’Iya, after he was attacked. Two DSS officers were reportedly injured, while 11 suspects were arrested by the police.
The Sokoto State Government also defended its decision to seal an ADC campaign office, explaining that the property was linked to the defunct Savannah Bank and that clarification was needed from the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation over its ownership.
Despite the disagreement, the ADC went ahead with its campaign launch, with supporters turning out in large numbers to receive Atiku and Amaechi.
Senator David Mark described the turnout as a sign of the support the party was receiving in the state and called on members to mobilise ahead of the 2027 elections.
Atiku said Sokoto was chosen for the campaign launch because of its historical importance and its position as a major political centre in Northern Nigeria.
The event marks the formal start of Atiku and Amaechi’s campaign activities in Sokoto as the ADC prepares to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election.
