Multiple electoral disputes erupt across Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara as 2027 campaigns begin
Nigeria's 2027 election cycle opened with simultaneous credibility crises in three states. In Sokoto, ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar accused the State Security Service (SSS) of recruiting protesters to disrupt his campaign launch scheduled for Wednesday, November 4 — an allegation the SSS denied while citing its protection of ADC's governorship candidate during an October 31 attack. The Sokoto government separately sealed the ADC's Ahmadu Bello Way office, claiming ownership by the defunct Savannah Bank.
In Kano, INEC omitted NDC governorship candidate Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo and running mate Mustapha Kwankwaso from its published list, citing a Federal High Court order filed October 17 — but Premium Times reported the omission on October 11, six days before the lawsuit existed. Justice Samuel Amobeda scheduled further proceedings for November 2; the outcome remains unconfirmed.
In Zamfara, a court-ordered APC senatorial primary rerun produced two irreconcilable result declarations. One tally credited three aspirants with 19,670 total votes despite only 19,608 accredited voters and 19,492 valid votes — a mathematical impossibility. A second declaration via Channels Television showed wildly different figures: incumbent Sahabi Alhaji Ya'u with 49,176 votes against Tijjani Yahaya Kaura's 9,628. Violence disrupted voting in Kaura Namoda. The APC has not authenticated either result.
Separately, 28 state assemblies approved a constitutional amendment enabling state police (exceeding the 24-state threshold), while the NNPP sued INEC and 45 lawmakers over alleged unconstitutional defections.
With campaign season barely underway, the pattern is clear: security agencies accused of partisan interference, electoral bodies citing court orders that post-date their own actions, and vote counts that don't add up. The Sokoto launch tomorrow will test whether opposition campaigns can operate without state obstruction. Will INEC and security agencies demonstrate neutrality before the disputes define the entire cycle?