Follow Us on Google
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Kaduna State government sealed the Arewa House, Kaduna, where he is scheduled to hold a consultative meeting on Thursday.
Atiku, in a statement by the Director of Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Phrank Shaibu, decried the pattern of preventing the opposition from using public facilities ahead of the 2027 polls.
The ADC candidate, who stated that he would not be intimidated, noted that the opposition party would continue its consultations, pursue its legal rights and take its message of a new direction for the country to the citizens.
According to him, “Arewa House is part of the shared heritage of the diverse peoples of Northern Nigeria. Sealing it to prevent a political consultation is an affront to their culture and dignity.
“My campaign team had proposed the Arewa House as the venue for our consultation with stakeholders on Thursday and, today, the APC government decided to seal the building.”
“This is a troubling pattern. During our campaign flag-off in Sokoto, the APC government also tried to frustrate us. The people stood firm, and their will prevailed. Now, as Atiku prepares to consult stakeholders at Arewa House, the venue has been sealed.
Other News
“We hold President Bola Tinubu and the APC politically responsible for this pattern of obstruction. An outgoing president and a ruling party should respect democratic competition, not use public authority to impede the opposition, restrict political consultation or weaken Nigerians’ right to choose.
“We will not be intimidated. We thank Nigerians across the country for their massive support, solidarity and encouragement. Your resolve strengthens ours. The ADC will continue its consultations, pursue its legal rights and take its message of a new direction to the people.”
Furthermore, the former Vice President noted that a Federal High Court, Abuja, has released the Certified True Copy (CTC) of its judgment, which sacked the ADC leadership and nullified his candidature.
Atiku stated that the certified copy of the judgment was released “on the final day of the seven-day period prescribed by the Constitution”, noting that “releasing a consequential judgment on the last permitted day leaves the African Democratic Congress with precious little time to study it and prepare its next legal steps.”
He added: “The ADC will study the judgment and pursue every lawful remedy available. But the timing of the release raises serious concern, especially as our party continues to face actions that obstruct its campaign and political consultations.”
