The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Sokoto State Government of allegedly directing hotels in the state capital to deny accommodation to its delegates expected to attend the party’s presidential campaign flag-off on Saturday.

The party also alleged that some delegates who had already secured accommodation and were staying in hotels were being forcibly evicted following the purported directive.

The presidential campaign spokesperson, Dahiru Maishanu, condemned the alleged action, describing it as irresponsible and an abuse of executive power.

Maishanu said it was unacceptable for the state government to allegedly instruct both public and privately owned hotels to deny paying guests accommodation, adding that the eviction of customers who had already paid for their rooms was equally condemnable.

“This action smacks of executive rascality and unwarranted partisanship by the state government and its agents,” he said.

He alleged that hotels had been informing prospective guests since Monday that they were fully booked through Sunday, a development he claimed was intended to frustrate accommodation arrangements for delegates arriving from different parts of the country.

According to him, the reported restrictions were not limited to preventing new reservations, as some delegates who had already checked into hotels were also allegedly being asked to leave.

The spokesperson, however, insisted that the alleged intimidation and harassment would not deter party members and supporters from attending the campaign flag-off.

He assured Nigerians that the event would proceed as scheduled, with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; its Sokoto State leader, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; and other party leaders and members expected to attend.

The campaign flag-off is scheduled to hold in Sokoto on Saturday, with delegates and party supporters expected to arrive from across the country.