The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has disowned an unsigned campaign timetable circulating ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The development follows reports that the opposition party planned to flag off its presidential campaign in Sokoto State on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
However, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council says it did not authorise or issue the document.
The council has urged party members, leaders and other stakeholders to disregard the purported timetable until an official announcement is released.
The clarification raises questions about the status of the reported campaign schedule, including claims that the Sokoto event has been postponed until November 4.
As of October 28, no official announcement confirming the November 4 date was found in the reports reviewed by ThisDawn News.
ADC Rejects Circulating Campaign Schedule
The ADC Presidential Campaign Council issued its clarification on Wednesday, October 28.
According to a report by New Telegraph, the council said the unsigned timetable circulating online did not originate from its office.
Kola Ologbondiyan, the council’s Director of Media and Publicity, communicated the position in a statement.
The council maintained that it had neither authorised nor issued an official campaign timetable.
It also warned party members and other stakeholders against treating the document as an approved schedule.
The statement urged Nigerians to await formal communication regarding the party’s campaign activities.
The clarification is significant because the circulating document reportedly contains proposed dates for political activities across several states.
However, the council’s position means those dates should not be treated as confirmed campaign events.
The statement did not confirm that the Sokoto flag-off had been moved to November 4.
Instead, it emphasised that stakeholders should rely on official communications from the campaign council.
October 31 Date Faces Questions
Reports published before Wednesday indicated that the ADC planned to hold its presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto on October 31.
The proposed event was expected to attract party leaders, supporters and delegates from different parts of Nigeria.
A report published by Managarciya on October 24 described the Sokoto gathering as a major political activity ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the report also noted that the party’s complete official campaign schedule was still awaited.
The subsequent clarification from the Presidential Campaign Council has further complicated the status of the proposed date.
The key distinction is that media reports about a planned event do not automatically establish an officially approved campaign timetable.
The council’s statement specifically rejected the unsigned schedule circulating online.
Consequently, reports about the October 31 date require careful attribution until the party issues definitive confirmation.
The same caution applies to claims that the event has been postponed until November 4.
At the time of writing, the available reports did not establish that the council had officially announced that revised date.
ADC Accuses Sokoto Government Over Hotel Accommodation
Another development surrounding the proposed campaign concerns allegations about accommodation arrangements for visiting delegates.
In a separate report published on Wednesday, The Guardian said the ADC accused the Sokoto State Government of directing hotels to deny accommodation to its delegates.
The party also alleged that some delegates who had already secured rooms were being asked to leave.
Dahiru Maishanu, identified as the presidential campaign spokesperson, condemned the alleged actions.
He described the reported restrictions as an abuse of executive power and accused the state government of political interference.
According to the report, Maishanu alleged that hotels had been telling prospective guests they were fully booked through Sunday.
He claimed the situation was affecting accommodation arrangements for delegates expected from different parts of the country.
The party further alleged that the reported restrictions affected some delegates who had already checked into hotels.
These allegations have not been independently established in the reports reviewed for this article.
The Sokoto State Government’s response was not included in the cited report.
The allegations should therefore be understood as the ADC’s claims, rather than established findings of wrongdoing.
The controversy adds another layer of uncertainty to preparations surrounding the proposed gathering.
Campaign Spokesperson Says Event Should Proceed
Despite the reported accommodation dispute, The Guardian reported that Maishanu insisted the alleged restrictions would not prevent the campaign flag-off.
He said party members and supporters remained determined to attend the gathering.
The report identified former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
It also listed Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the party’s Sokoto State leader, among the expected attendees.
Other party leaders and supporters were also expected to participate.
However, this account must be considered alongside the Presidential Campaign Council’s separate clarification about the unsigned timetable.
The two reports address different aspects of the situation.
The campaign spokesperson discussed the preparations and alleged accommodation restrictions surrounding the planned event.
The council’s media director, meanwhile, rejected the circulating timetable as unauthorised.
The available reports do not fully reconcile these positions.
An official statement confirming the date, venue and arrangements would help clarify the situation for party members and the public.
Until then, claims about the event’s final schedule should be reported cautiously.
Atiku and the ADC’s 2027 Political Plans
The developments come as political parties prepare for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Atiku Abubakar remains a prominent opposition figure and is identified in recent reporting as the ADC’s presidential candidate.
The Sokoto chapter of the party had earlier adopted him as its sole presidential candidate ahead of the party’s primary process.
According to The PUNCH, the state chapter announced the decision in May following consultations among party stakeholders.
The announcement reflected the support of ADC figures in Sokoto for Atiku’s candidacy.
Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is also an important political figure in the state and has been associated with the party’s activities.
A successful campaign mobilisation effort in Sokoto could provide an opportunity for the ADC to demonstrate its organisation and political support.
However, the impact of any rally would depend on its eventual turnout, messaging and wider political circumstances.
The current timetable dispute illustrates why clear communication is important during election preparations.
Party members need reliable dates and arrangements to organise travel, accommodation and participation.
Voters also need accurate information about campaign activities as political competition intensifies.
The party’s next official announcement will therefore be important in clarifying its immediate plans.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is whether the ADC Presidential Campaign Council will publish an authorised schedule confirming the Sokoto flag-off.
The council has urged stakeholders to disregard the unsigned timetable and wait for official communication.
Meanwhile, separate reporting indicates that preparations for an October 31 gathering had been discussed publicly.
The claim that the event has been postponed until November 4 remains unverified by the sources reviewed for this report.
ThisDawn News will continue monitoring statements from the ADC leadership and its Presidential Campaign Council.
Any confirmed change to the campaign date, venue or programme will be reported when reliable information becomes available.
For now, party members and supporters should verify campaign arrangements through official ADC communications before making travel plans.
