From Sokoto To Calabar: Atiku’s Campaign Rally, Obi’s Convoy Attack & Fresh 2027 Political Tensions
By MELVIN KOFFA
ATIKU Abubakar has launched his presidential campaign in Sokoto after days of controversy over access to the rally venue and alleged security interference. Meanwhile, Peter Obi’s convoy came under attack in Calabar, prompting police to arrest a suspect as investigations continued.
The developments formed part of a busy political week ahead of the 2027 general elections. In addition, President Bola Tinubu’s revised external borrowing proposal, fresh campaign promises, electoral security concerns and court rulings featured prominently in the political landscape.
Atiku Launches Sokoto Campaign, Renews Affordability Promise
Atiku addressed supporters on Wednesday at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) state secretariat on Ilorin Road, Sokoto. He attended the rally alongside his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
The campaign launch followed a dispute over access to an earlier proposed venue. The Sokoto State Government had ordered the sealing of premises on Ahmadu Bello Way, citing Savannah Bank’s ownership of the property and security concerns.
However, the ADC accused the state government of political intimidation and interference with its campaign activities.
A day before the rally, Atiku alleged that the State Security Service (SSS) was recruiting protesters to disrupt the event and create grounds for imposing a curfew. The agency denied the allegation and announced an investigation.
Consequently, the campaign moved ahead at the party’s state secretariat on Ilorin Road. Atiku used the occasion to promise stronger action against insecurity, the reopening of land borders for legitimate trade and measures to reduce the cost of living.
The ADC described the turnout as evidence of public support for its affordability message. In a statement on Atiku’s verified X account, the campaign said his motorcade took three and a half hours to reach the venue because of the crowds.
Campaign spokesperson Shaibu also presented the reception as a rejection of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies.
At the centre of Atiku’s economic message is a proposal for targeted, production-based subsidies for qualifying petroleum products refined in Nigeria.
The campaign has explained that domestic refineries, including modular facilities, could qualify for assistance. One proposed arrangement would supply crude oil below market prices, with the price difference treated as a production subsidy.
Shaibu said the programme would operate within a budget, face independent audits and require participating refineries to pass lower production costs on to consumers.
Nevertheless, the campaign has not disclosed the proposed crude discount, eligible production volumes, annual spending limit or formula for determining the savings consumers would receive.
Those details matter because supplying crude below market prices would carry a fiscal cost or amount to forgone government revenue, depending on the arrangement. The final cost would therefore depend on the discount, the volume of crude supplied and the pricing rules.
Obi’s Convoy Attacked in Calabar as Police Arrest Suspect
While the ADC celebrated its Sokoto rally, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) faced a security incident during its presidential campaign activities in Cross River State.
According to the police, attackers struck Peter Obi’s convoy near Watt Market Roundabout in Calabar at approximately 2.20 p.m.
The convoy was returning from the palace of the Obong of Calabar and heading towards the Metropolitan Hotel, where the party had scheduled a presidential town hall meeting.
Police spokesperson Eitokpah Sunday Akata said suspected attackers armed with machetes and sticks emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley area. They reportedly damaged windscreens of vehicles in the convoy.
Officers subsequently arrested a 27-year-old suspect, Victor Edet Yellow Duke. However, other suspected participants escaped.
The police said they were still determining the number of damaged vehicles. Commissioner of Police Ajo Ordue ordered an investigation, while the command cautioned that the arrest did not establish the suspect’s guilt.
Reports also indicated that attackers threw stones, bottles and other objects at the convoy, leaving some NDC supporters injured. However, the police statement did not independently confirm those reported injuries.
Obi accused APC supporters of involvement in the attack. Nevertheless, investigators had not established the attackers’ political affiliations or identified any political sponsor.
Earlier that Wednesday, security personnel had intervened in a separate confrontation involving NDC participants and APC supporters near the Metropolitan Hotel on Murtala Mohammed Highway.
Police described that incident as an encounter between two groups whose routes converged. Reports at the time placed Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, away from the hotel.
Importantly, the confrontation near the hotel and the later convoy attack occurred at different locations. Police had not established any connection between the two incidents.
The developments also coincided with a nationwide directive from Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu. He ordered commissioners of police to prevent and investigate the destruction of political posters and billboards and pursue suspected sponsors where evidence supports prosecution.
However, the directive has no established connection with the Calabar attack.
Tinubu Replaces External Borrowing Request with $7.7bn Proposal
Economic policy also featured prominently in the political exchanges after President Bola Tinubu withdrew his earlier external borrowing request and submitted a replacement proposal worth $7,707,404,882.49.
The withdrawn request involved approximately $20.52 billion and €1.05 billion under a supplementary external borrowing plan for 2026–2027. The new proposal, however, seeks financing to support the 2026 budget and is not an additional amount to be combined with the earlier request.
In a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary, Tinubu said the proposed borrowing would finance projects in infrastructure, defence, agriculture, healthcare, power and education.
He also proposed pursuing several financing options simultaneously, with particular emphasis on Eurobonds because of their speed and capacity to raise substantial funds.
According to the president, the final interest rates, repayment periods and other conditions would depend on market pricing.
Atiku, however, urged the Senate to reject the proposal until the government provided fuller details of the projects, allocations, borrowing conditions and repayment arrangements.
Through his spokesperson, Shaibu, he also called on international lenders to withhold further financing until the government made the necessary disclosures.
Although Tinubu explained that the final market terms would emerge during pricing, the published proposal did not identify individual projects or specify their allocations. Consequently, the Senate committees handling local and foreign debts and appropriations will have to examine the financing details.
The controversy also brings Atiku’s proposed petroleum subsidy into focus. His plan would require government resources, even if the support came through discounted crude rather than direct cash payments.
Both proposals involve different forms of government intervention. Nevertheless, each raises questions about public costs, implementation arrangements and the benefits expected by Nigerians.
Makinde Unveils Presidential Manifesto, Proposes Election Reforms
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde unveiled the Reset Agenda manifesto of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), which he is contesting under alongside his running mate, Lawal Musa Daura.
The programme outlines proposals covering economic management, security, education and governance. Among its priorities are reducing structural living costs, improving intelligence coordination and devolving more responsibilities to state governments.
Beyond the published manifesto, Makinde advocated changes to the constitutional requirements for winning presidential elections.
Reports of his remarks indicated that he proposed a minimum threshold of 51 per cent of votes. Another account, however, described the proposal as 50 per cent plus one vote. The precise formulation requires confirmation from his original remarks.
Under Section 134 of the Constitution, a presidential candidate must secure the highest number of votes and satisfy geographical spread requirements. A mandatory national majority would therefore change the existing electoral test and require constitutional amendment.
Makinde also reiterated his proposal for a transitional government of national unity and called for a national conference. However, he did not explain how the proposed transitional arrangement would operate within Nigeria’s existing constitutional framework.
Parties Intensify Campaign Preparations as INEC Seeks Support
Political parties also stepped up their preparations for the 2027 elections.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council directed ministers, political appointees and council members to concentrate their rally attendance and mobilisation activities in their home states.
A circular signed by campaign Director-General Abdulaziz Yari called for stronger mobilisation at polling-unit, ward and local government levels. It also urged greater visibility for legislative candidates and assigned responsibilities to national party officers, subject to specified exceptions.
In Cross River, the ADC inaugurated a 63-member campaign organisation as it expanded its state-level preparations alongside Atiku’s national campaign launch in Sokoto.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu directed commissioners nationwide to prevent and investigate the destruction of political posters and billboards. He also called for the prosecution of suspected sponsors where evidence establishes their involvement.
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore separately demanded an independent investigation into the 30 October incident in Ekiti State.
He called for the preservation of CCTV recordings and other electronic evidence. Sowore also questioned the scope of the police investigation despite the announcement of 11 arrests.
Beyond campaign security, INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan sought assistance from the United Kingdom and the United Nations to tackle foreign disinformation and artificial intelligence manipulation ahead of the elections.
He also requested support for public awareness campaigns, cybersecurity measures and mock electoral exercises.
The commission announced that its North-Central readiness assessment would begin on Thursday after completing its South-South tour.
Court Rulings Affect PDP Leadership & ADC Governorship Nomination
Legal disputes also continued to shape opposition party structures and nomination arrangements.
In Abuja, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara and seven others seeking to compel INEC to recognise the interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
The appellate court upheld the Federal High Court’s refusal to grant the requested recognition.
However, the faction’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, said its lawyers had received instructions to approach the Supreme Court. His announcement did not establish that the faction had already filed an appeal.
In Nasarawa State, a Federal High Court judgment set aside the nomination of retired Major General Nuhu Angbazo as the ADC governorship candidate.
Reports of the ruling said the primary election remained inconclusive because voting had not taken place in Karu Local Government Area.
The court ordered the outstanding exercise in Karu’s 11 wards and reportedly restrained INEC from recognising Angbazo under the disputed nomination.
Former Environment Minister Mohammed Abdullahi brought the case after contesting the primary against Angbazo and Senator Mohammed Onawo.
Following the judgment, Angbazo urged supporters to remain calm while his lawyers studied the court’s decision.
Together, the developments underscore the range of political, security, economic and legal issues shaping preparations for the 2027 elections.
