The Sokoto State Police Command has issued a strict ban on the carrying of dangerous weapons and the deployment of non-state security outfits at political gatherings across the state, citing strict enforcement of the Electoral Act 2022. ​
The directive was declared by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Hassan Shafa, during an emergency political stakeholders’ security meeting held on Wednesday morning, September 9, 2026, at the Police Command Headquarters in Sokoto.
The high-level session brought together state chairmen, executives, and representatives of various political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), and National Democratic Congress (NDC). ​
CP Shafa warned political actors against viewing the upcoming general elections as a violent contest, emphasizing that the command will show zero tolerance for intimidation, hate speech, campaign material destruction, or character assassination.
​”We are gathered here today not as rivals but as custodians of Sokoto State’s future. The elections ahead are not a war to be won by force; they are a contest of ideas to be won by the will of the people,” CP Hayatu Hassan Shafa asserted. “We must move from the politics of insult to the politics of issues.
The days of looking the other way are over, if your supporters, youth wings, or social media influencers disturb the peace, we will hold party executives personally accountable.” ​Key resolutions enforced during the session include the Ban on Quasi-Security Forces; Private security guards, vigilante groups, and local non-state actors are barred from providing security at rallies or political processions.
Prohibition of Offensive Arms; Open brandishing of firearms, cutlasses, or any lethal weapons by political supporters is strictly prohibited. Protection in Security-Sensitive Areas; Party leaders were cautioned against endangering voters in local government areas heavily impacted by banditry, specifically Sabon Birni, Rabah, Kebbe, Tureta, and Isa.
Inter-Agency Intelligence Sharing; Political parties must submit event timetables and report potential flashpoints to security agencies to prevent conflicts before they occur. ​During the interactive session, party representatives raised key concerns regarding equal enforcement.
Haruna Adiya, Chairman of the Sokoto APC, pledged the party’s commitment to complying with the directives and signing the upcoming state peace accord. Isiaka Keegan, State Vice Chairman of the ADC, and Abubakar Yawale, State Chairman of the Labour Party, both called for an end to selective enforcement, urging the police to crack down on politicians who sponsor thugs or attempt to bail arrested offenders.
Additionally, Bello Labaran, representing the NDC, urged the command to collaborate closely with the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Department of State Services (DSS) to secure campaign grounds. ​
Reiterating the command’s stance, Police Public Relations Officer ASP Ahmad Rufai confirmed that operational officers across all division commands have been mandated to arrest and prosecute any individual violating electoral security laws.
