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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The controversy surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign in Sokoto State has deepened, with the Arewa Youth Assembly for Good Leadership (AYAGL) cautioning former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar against dragging the Department of State Services (DSS) into partisan politics over allegations that the security agency was involved in a plot to disrupt the opposition party’s activities.
The group challenged Atiku to provide credible evidence to substantiate his allegations, warning that repeated accusations against national security institutions without proper verification could undermine public confidence in agencies responsible for protecting lives, maintaining national stability and safeguarding the democratic process.
Atiku had, during an emergency press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, accused the DSS and other security agencies of plotting to frustrate the commencement of his presidential campaign in Sokoto, alleging that arrangements were being made to mobilise protesters, create disorder and provide a pretext for the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled state government to impose a curfew.
The former Vice-President, who subsequently arrived in Sokoto on Wednesday for the launch of his campaign, also raised concerns about the safety of opposition candidates and supporters, insisting that security agencies must not be deployed to obstruct legitimate political activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
“More disturbing still, the information available to us is that the leadership of the Department of State Services is recruiting people to stage protests in Sokoto.
“The objective is to create disorder, give the APC-controlled state government a pretext to impose a curfew and prevent our campaign take-off from holding as scheduled,” Atiku alleged.
He called on the Federal Government to investigate the alleged plot and guarantee the right of opposition parties to organise rallies and campaign freely without intimidation or interference.
The DSS, however, denied the allegations and disclosed that its Director-General had ordered an investigation into the claims.
The agency also maintained that its operatives had rescued the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto, Mannir Daniya, during an attack on October 31, in which two DSS personnel sustained injuries.
Reacting to the controversy in a statement signed by its President, Alhaji Danbature Abdul-Hamid, AYAGL said political leaders must exercise restraint when making allegations against sensitive national security institutions, stressing that claims capable of damaging public confidence in the DSS should be supported by verifiable evidence.
The group acknowledged that political leaders and citizens had the right to demand accountability from security agencies but insisted that such scrutiny must be conducted responsibly and without allowing partisan interests to overshadow national security considerations.
According to AYAGL, the DSS remains an important component of Nigeria’s internal security architecture, particularly in intelligence gathering, combating threats to national stability and protecting democratic institutions.
“National security must never be subordinated to partisan interests. The protection of Nigerians, their freedom, democratic rights and the territorial integrity of the country must remain the overriding responsibility of every security institution,” the statement said.
The organisation commended the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for what it described as ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening professionalism, accountability, respect for human rights and operational efficiency within the Service.
It particularly cited the reported rescue of the ADC governorship candidate by DSS operatives as evidence of the importance of security agencies discharging their responsibilities without discrimination on the basis of political affiliation.
AYAGL argued that the incident demonstrated the need to recognise the sacrifices of security personnel, including those who sustained injuries while carrying out their duties, rather than allowing political disagreements to undermine confidence in their institutions.
The group expressed concern that persistent political controversies involving security agencies could distract them from addressing the security challenges confronting Northern Nigeria, where terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent extremism and other criminal activities continued to threaten communities.
It maintained that tackling those threats required stronger intelligence-led operations, effective collaboration among security agencies and sustained institutional commitment, rather than exchanges that could weaken public trust.
AYAGL consequently urged Atiku to channel any genuine complaints about the DSS through appropriate institutional mechanisms and allow credible investigations to establish the facts.
The organisation also advised the former Vice-President to devote greater attention to internal challenges within the ADC, arguing that political parties should prioritise internal democracy, organisational discipline and unity as preparations intensified for the 2027 elections.
It stressed that the DSS was a national institution that belonged to neither a political party nor an individual, adding that its personnel must be allowed to discharge their responsibilities professionally and impartially.
“As 2027 approaches, we urge all political actors, particularly those aspiring to lead this country, to demonstrate maturity and a strong sense of patriotism. Political competition should be about ideas, policies, leadership capacity and the development of Nigeria, not the weakening of public confidence in institutions responsible for protecting the lives and security of citizens,” AYAGL stated.
The group, however, clarified that its defence of the DSS should not be interpreted as an attempt to shield the agency from legitimate scrutiny, maintaining that security institutions must remain accountable to the public and operate within the law.
It said defending national institutions also required encouraging professionalism, transparency, impartiality and respect for citizens’ fundamental rights.
“For us in Northern Nigeria, the importance of a functional, professional and credible DSS cannot be overstated. We need the Service more than ever, given the security realities confronting our region.
“Our position is simple; National security must be bigger than partisan politics, and the safety of Nigerians must take precedence over every political ambition,” the group declared.
AYAGL called on political leaders to avoid actions capable of weakening public institutions, insisting that Nigeria required strong security agencies, responsible political leadership and a united commitment to tackling insecurity as the country prepared for the next general election.
