Condemnations have trailed the comments attributed to the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo where he asked residents who would not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave the council.

The area council chairman in a video circulating on social media was heard saying: “I have said in my area council, it’s either you’re doing APC or leave the area council. I am not arguing with you.”

He linked his position to development projects being executed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, arguing that residents should support the APC in return for the interventions.

“I cannot have the minister and president doing for us what they are doing. Then, on the day of election, you now come and say you want to match me. I will not do it,” he said.

Amnesty International in a statement by its country director, Isa Sanusi described the remarks as a threat to residents’ freedom of association and liberty, urging security agencies to investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

AI said no Nigerian should be forced to tie their right to live in a particular community to support for a political party.

“Authoritatively saying that those who will not vote APC must leave Kuje area council is a direct threat to lives and an attack on freedom of association and liberty of persons,” the organisation said in a statement.

It urged the police and other security agencies to prevent any use of violence against residents on account of their political choices.

“Security agencies must not look the other way, and must ensure that Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo face justice for these reckless and irresponsible threats to the people,” Sanusi said.

The organisation also called for accountability, describing the council chairman’s alleged remarks as a threat to residents who may choose not to vote for the APC.

Commenting on the controversy surrounding the reported remarks, political and public affairs analyst, Associate Professor Babayo Sule of the University of Namibia, described the statement as a serious threat to citizens’ constitutional rights.

Sule said the chairman’s reported warning that residents who would not support or vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in 2027 should leave Kuje was “unfortunate” and “disastrous”.

“The recent video clip that is circulating in which the chairman of Kuje local government in the FCT council in Nigeria is busy around issuing a very serious existential threat to any Nigerian citizen that is not ready to support or vote for APC and Tinubu government in 2027 is unfortunate, is disastrous,” he said.

According to him, the comment raises constitutional and legal concerns, particularly regarding freedom of movement and political participation.

He cited Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, saying every Nigerian has the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country.

He added that citizens aged 18 and above were also entitled to participate in political activities and vote for candidates of their choice.

“What this man did is an expression of extreme ignorance, arrogance, lack of understanding of the diversity and complexity of Nigeria’s political environment and socio-cultural context,” Sule said.

He urged relevant authorities to investigate the matter, arguing that the chairman should be made to answer for the statement if it is established that he made it.

Sule also warned the APC against overlooking the controversy, saying the remarks could damage the party’s standing among voters.

However, the Kuje Area Council administration later sought to clarify the chairman’s remarks, saying they had been misunderstood and should not be interpreted as a directive to residents to leave the council.

In a statement by the Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Musa Samson Adayilo, the council said it remained committed to serving residents irrespective of their political affiliation.

“We wish to clarify that the administration of Kuje Area Council remains committed to serving all residents without discrimination on the basis of political affiliation,” Adayilo said.

He said the chairman’s comments were intended to encourage residents to support President Tinubu because of what he described as development projects being executed in the FCT under Wike.

Adayilo appealed to residents and supporters of different political parties not to interpret the remarks in a manner capable of creating division.

“Political differences are natural in a democratic society, but they should never become a barrier to peaceful coexistence, development and good governance,” he said.

The council also maintained that Kuje belongs to all residents and urged them to work together despite their political differences.

Previous statement threatening voters

In the build up to 2019 election, Oluremi Tinubu took on the Igbos in Lagos, saying they were ungrateful after being “accommodated” in the state.

She said: “We will entreat all the deities of Lagos to chase Igbo people out. Igbo who didn’t marry Yoruba, we will inherit them. Given how much we love Igbo, you now want to spoil everything.

“You are not the only tribe in this place, Hausa are here, we accommodate them, Calabar are here, we accommodate them. But Igbos are proving difficult. We will inherit you. Despite the love, we have for you… others are here and we accommodated them.”

In 2015, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, swore that Igbo in Lagos would perish if they fail to support and vote for then gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode.

The Oba made the statement at his palace while addressing Igbo leaders ahead of the election.

“On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against Ambode who I picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me.

“On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos state, the person is going to die inside this water.

“I’m not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi is my blood relation and I told him that he cannot be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, don’t do it here.”

He however assured Ndigbo that they would prosper in Lagos if they gave Ambode their support at the polls.

“If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you. If you go against my wish, you will perish in the water.

“I am for the progress, growth and development of Lagos. Ambode is highly cerebral, he’s a symbol and he is going to deliver the message which I, the Oba of Lagos, have said. And he will govern the state for another eight years.

“He is going on a mission and God will give him the wisdom and knowledge to fulfill that mission. Almost a year ago, I declared that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos and it will not change.”

MC Oluomo

In 2023, then Chairman of the State Parks Management Committee in Lagos, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, threatened that Igbo voters in the state should not go to their polling units if they would not vote for the All Progressives Congress.

In a viral video shared on Twitter, Akinsanya, at a gathering threatened that Igbo voters in the state should not go to their polling units if they would not vote for the All Progressives Congress.

He said, “It is not a fight. It is not a problem. What do we want to correct? Our PVC. And we will stand there. Yoruba should get there first and should vote first. When we finish voting, we will be watching because we have begged you and you said you have heard. If you make a mistake, you will understand. Please tell them, we have begged them.

“If they don’t vote for us, it is not a fight. Tell them that, Chukwudi’s mother, if you don’t (vote) for us, sit down at home. Do you understand? Sit down at home.”

Two weeks ago, Osun East Senator Francis Fadahunsi issued death threat to members of the Accord Party found in Ilesa ahead of August 15 Osun State governorship election.

“It is animal that kills. Have you ever heard that APC killed anyone? Are those being killed not your people?” Mr Fadahunsi said.

“So, we have come to tell you, up till the day of the election, if we see them, it is killing.”

The statement came a day after three people were killed in a shooting in the Imo area of Ilesa in Osun State, amid heightened political tension. (Daily Trust)