Hotel row: APC accuses ADC of politicising dispute
Hotel row: APC accuses ADC of politicising dispute
The APC Youth Vanguards have accused the African Democratic Congress of politicising the reported difficulties in securing hotel accommodation in Sokoto ahead of its presidential campaign flag-off.
The APC youth group, thus, demanded for a credible evidence to support allegations against Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration.
The group was reacting to claims by Dahiru Maishanu, a member of the ADC presidential campaign media team, that the state government directed hotels in Sokoto metropolis to deny accommodation to delegates and supporters expected to attend the party’s campaign event.
Maishanu also alleged that some guests who had paid for their rooms were forced to leave, raising concerns about possible attempts to frustrate the opposition party’s political activities.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Secretary, Abdurrasheed Yaqub, the APC Youth Vanguards dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, arguing that other events in the state could have contributed to the reported accommodation difficulties.
The group cited the planned turbaning of traditional titleholders appointed by the Sultan of Sokoto, scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, which it said was expected to attract dignitaries and visitors from across the country.
According to the group, the influx of traditional rulers, their relatives, associates and other guests could have increased demand for hotel rooms in the state capital.
It argued that the reported accommodation challenges should not automatically be interpreted as a deliberate attempt by the government to undermine the ADC’s political activities.
“How can a state government known for prudence and transparency in the management of public resources deliberately spend taxpayers’ money on hotel accommodation simply to frustrate an opposition political party? Such a claim requires credible evidence, not political insinuations,” the statement read in part.
The group also questioned whether similar accommodation difficulties arose during the recent visit of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to Sokoto for political engagements.
“Peter Obi, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and their supporters from different parts of the country were in Sokoto for several days recently for political activities. Did they sleep in classrooms because they could not access hotels? Were they prevented from coming to Sokoto or conducting their political engagements?” it asked.
The APC Youth Vanguards further argued that the ADC had continued to organise meetings, rallies and other political gatherings in public places across the state without interference from the government.
“If Governor Ahmed Aliyu and the APC-led government were determined to frustrate opposition activities, how has ADC supporters continued to organise their meetings and rallies in public places across the state?” the statement added.
On the reported postponement of the ADC’s presidential campaign flag-off, the group said the rescheduling alone was insufficient to establish that the state government was responsible for the development.
It maintained that political parties should compete through their policies, programmes and ability to convince voters rather than engage in allegations capable of heightening political tension.
The group also urged the media to independently verify politically sensitive claims and obtain relevant responses before presenting allegations as established facts.
“The right of the ADC to organise its political activities is not in dispute. Equally, the right of visitors to attend traditional ceremonies and other legitimate events in Sokoto must be respected,” the statement maintained.
The APC Youth Vanguards urged the opposition party to focus on its campaign agenda and engage voters on development issues rather than what it described as an unsubstantiated narrative against the state government.
“Stop the misinformation. Stop the distortion of events. Stop turning every development into a political conspiracy. Sokoto deserves responsible political engagement, and Nigerians deserve facts, fairness and transparency,” the statement concluded.
