A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Solomon Dalung, has accused governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress of frustrating opposition activities by allegedly taking over hotels and sealing venues intended for the party rallies and meetings involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Dalung alleged that the actions were part of efforts to deny opposition parties the space to participate freely in the 2027 general elections.
He made the allegations on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Dalung was responding to comments in some quarters that “heaven will not fall” if Atiku is not on the ballot for the 2027 presidential election.
The debate followed a recent judgment by Justice Lifu of the Federal High Court on the leadership crisis rocking the ADC.
The ADC chieftain, however, warned that the alleged suppression of opposition activities could have serious consequences for the country’s democracy.
“I know heaven will fall. Anybody saying heaven will not fall is not mindful of how this transition has been, because this is the only transition where the opposition has no space of participation, even when guaranteed by the constitution and the law,” he said.
Dalung alleged that APC governors had been taking over hotels and other facilities in states where the ADC planned to hold rallies.
He further claimed that venues previously used by the opposition party for its presidential campaign activities had been sealed by authorities.
According to him, the alleged interference had extended to meetings involving Atiku and political leaders.
“They have even gone to places where Atiku is supposed to attend meetings, even with leaders. They seal the places. Atiku is supposed to have met with the leaders of Arewa Consultative Forum today. Their offices in Kaduna have been sealed by the Kaduna State government,” he alleged.
Dalung maintained that the alleged restrictions on opposition activities amounted to a deliberate narrowing of the political space ahead of the 2027 elections.
“So the narrowing of the space of participation is what will bring down heaven,” he added.
