Ayomide Awe
Suspected political thugs have attacked the presidential campaign convoy of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Kebbi State, smashing cameras and other recording equipment belonging to journalists and members of the media team accompanying him.
The attack, which reportedly occurred on Thursday, disrupted the African Democratic Congress presidential campaign activities as the team moved around the state for political engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the assailants allegedly blocked the convoy at some junctions, pelted vehicles with stones and specifically targeted members of the campaign’s media crew, destroying cameras, video recording devices, tripods and other production equipment.
The destruction reportedly crippled the media team’s operations, preventing journalists and other media professionals from continuing their live coverage of the campaign activities.
The ADC campaign team accused the attackers of being sponsored political thugs, alleging that their primary objective was not robbery but the deliberate destruction of equipment used to document the candidate’s activities.
Royalty Uso, Atiku’s Special Adviser on New Media, confirmed the incident in a post on X, alleging that supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress were responsible for the violence.
“APC-sponsored thugs are mounting at junctions to attack the ADC Presidential campaign convoy in Kebbi.
“Our security operatives have had to intervene with tear gas, and our supporters have also stepped in to chase the hooligans away,” Uso stated.
A member of the campaign team, who also spoke about the incident, alleged that the attackers deliberately targeted the media crew rather than attempting to steal valuables.
“The thugs did not come to steal. They came to destroy. They targeted our cameras and video crew because they did not want Nigerians to see what is happening here in Kebbi,” the campaign team member alleged.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of journalists, political campaigners and opposition supporters as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It also comes amid growing concerns about the protection of press freedom and the right of opposition parties to freely mobilise supporters, conduct political engagements and communicate their activities to Nigerians without intimidation.
The latest incident is not the first reported security controversy surrounding Atiku’s visit to Kebbi.
Earlier on Thursday, reports emerged that security operatives allegedly fired tear gas into a building where the former Vice-President and members of his entourage were staying.
Henry Shield, Head of Mission of the Leadership and Accountability Initiative, raised the alarm in a post on X, alleging that security operatives targeted the building occupied by Atiku and his team.
Shield also alleged that the Kebbi State Government had directed traditional rulers across the state to embark on a three-day vacation to prevent them from receiving courtesy visits from the ADC presidential candidate during his tour.
“Security men are said to have fired teargas into the building where Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his entourage are presently camped in Kebbi State.
“Also, it is alleged that the Governor has mandated all traditional rulers in the state to go on three-day vacation so Atiku doesn’t visit any of them,” Shield wrote.
He added, “APC is not ready for this democracy.”
However, the allegations concerning the reported directive to traditional rulers and the alleged involvement of APC supporters in the attacks had not been independently established as of the time of filing this report.
The developments occurred against the backdrop of a fresh legal and political crisis within the ADC following a controversial court judgment delivered on Thursday.
Justice Peter Lifu reportedly gave a ruling that affected the leadership of the party’s National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark, throwing the party’s political structure and preparations for the 2027 elections into uncertainty.
The ADC rejected the judgment, with its spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, describing it as “judicial recklessness” and alleging that the ruling was aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the next general elections.
The party further alleged that the decision was part of a broader attempt to pave the way for the ruling APC to face little or no effective opposition in 2027.
The ADC also questioned the judge’s handling of the party’s leadership dispute, referencing an earlier deregistration controversy that was overturned by the Court of Appeal.
The attack on Atiku’s campaign convoy, coming amid the reported tear-gassing incident and the legal battle over the ADC leadership, has intensified questions about the political environment confronting opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political observers and press freedom advocates are likely to demand a thorough investigation into the destruction of media equipment, the circumstances surrounding the reported attack and the alleged use of security operatives against the opposition campaign.
The Kebbi State Government, the APC and the relevant security authorities should provide explanations regarding the allegations and clarify measures being taken to guarantee the safety of political campaign teams and journalists covering electoral activities.
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