The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has described the massive crowd that welcomed its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Sokoto as an indication of growing public dissatisfaction with the economic challenges facing Nigerians and interest in the party’s promise to make life more affordable.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council made this declaration following the successful flag-off of the party’s presidential campaign activities in Sokoto on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, where thousands of supporters reportedly turned out to receive Atiku and participate in the campaign procession.

According to the campaign council, an enthusiastic crowd lined the route from Sokoto airport to the party’s state secretariat, creating a massive procession that significantly slowed the movement of Atiku’s motorcade. The journey, which ordinarily takes considerably less time, reportedly lasted approximately three and a half hours due to the large turnout of supporters.

Men and women, young people, elderly residents and mothers were among those who gathered along the route to welcome Atiku and accompany the campaign team to the rally venue.

The campaign council also reported that commercial and other daily activities were disrupted in parts of the city as residents left their workplaces and joined the procession.

Describing the turnout as spontaneous, the ADC maintained that the crowd was not assembled through financial inducements but reflected the concerns of Nigerians over the rising cost of food, transportation, petrol and other essential commodities.

ADC: Attempts to Frustrate Sokoto Rally Could Not Deter Supporters

The campaign council also criticised what it described as attempts by the Sokoto State Government to frustrate the party’s campaign activities.

According to the ADC, the state government denied the party access to public facilities requested for its campaign flag-off, while other obstacles were allegedly placed in the way of its lawful political activities.

The party argued that such actions could not diminish citizens’ constitutional right to participate in democratic activities or determine which political parties they wish to support.

The ADC maintained that denying opposition parties access to public facilities or creating unnecessary obstacles to their campaigns would not prevent Nigerians from expressing their political preferences.

It further stated that the large turnout in Sokoto demonstrated the determination of residents to participate in the political process despite the challenges encountered ahead of the rally.

Atiku Reaffirms Commitment to Tackling Nigeria’s Cost-of-Living Crisis

Addressing supporters at the rally, Atiku Abubakar reaffirmed his commitment to addressing Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis and improving the economic circumstances of households and businesses.

Central to the economic proposal outlined by the campaign council is a targeted, production-based subsidy for qualifying petroleum products refined within Nigeria.

Under the proposed arrangement, government support would be linked to domestic refining rather than broadly applied to imported finished petroleum products.

According to the ADC, this approach is intended to encourage local production, reduce fuel costs and ease the economic pressures associated with high transportation and energy expenses.

The party believes that lowering these costs would also help moderate the prices of food and other essential commodities, while providing relief to households and businesses struggling with rising operating expenses.

The campaign council described the proposal as part of Atiku’s broader commitment to developing a more affordable economy that supports local production and responds to the everyday needs of Nigerians.

ADC Emphasises Affordability as a Central Campaign Priority

The ADC said its message to Nigerians is built around the need for a government that prioritises the welfare of citizens, supports domestic productive capacity and addresses the economic difficulties confronting ordinary households.

According to the party, economic policies must translate into tangible improvements in people’s living conditions, particularly in the cost of food, transportation, energy and other basic necessities.

It maintained that Nigerians deserve economic policies that create opportunities for businesses, strengthen local industries and make essential goods and services more accessible.

The party also described the Sokoto campaign flag-off as an opportunity to communicate its economic proposals directly to citizens and engage Nigerians on the need for practical solutions to the country’s challenges.

Concluding its remarks on the turnout, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council said the reception accorded to Atiku reflected the importance of connecting political messages with the everyday concerns of the people.

“When you have a message that connects with the people, you do not need to rent a crowd. The people show up on their own,” the campaign council declared.

The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to taking its campaign message across the country, with affordability, domestic production and economic relief remaining central themes of its engagement with Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.