Politics
Kuje council chairman Shekwolo is ‘danger to society’ over APC th
AMNESTY International has condemned the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, over his threat to residents who refuse to support or vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
The organisation described Shekwolo as a “danger to society” following his remarks that residents who would not support the APC should leave his area council in a video that surfaced on social media on Tuesday, August 25.
Shekwolo said in the video that he would not allow the council residents to work against the APC or oppose President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
“I have said in my area council that it’s either you are doing APC or you leave the area council. I am not arguing about it at all,” he said.
The chairman said his position was based on what he described as the developmental achievements of President Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in the area council.
“You know why? I cannot have the minister and the president doing what they are doing, then on the day of the election, you will now say you want to match me out. I will not agree,” he said.
“It’s either you are with us, or you are against us.”
Reacting to the remarks, Amnesty International said the chairman’s comments amounted to a threat to their fundamental rights.
The organisation said the remarks were a direct attack on residents’ freedom of association, liberty and right to make political choices.
“Authoritatively saying that those who will not vote APC must leave Kuje Area Council is a call to violence and direct attack on freedom of association and liberty of persons,” Amnesty said.
It stressed that no public official had the right to make residence in any part of Nigeria conditional on membership of, or support for, a political party.
“No one has the right to make living in a place in Nigeria tied to joining or voting for one political party,” the organisation said.
Amnesty urged the police and other security agencies to intervene immediately to prevent the use of violence against residents over their political choices.
It also called for Shekwolo to be held accountable over what it described as threats against residents who may not support the APC.
“The Chairman Kuje Area Council FCT Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo is a danger to society and must be held to account for threatening violence on those who may not vote for APC,” Amnesty said.
The organisation warned that any attempt to unleash violence against residents because of their political affiliation could have consequences beyond Kuje Area Council.
“This plan to unleash violence on those who are not supporting APC in Kuje Area Council will have wider impact and will put lives at risk,” it stated.
Another APC member accused of issuing threat
Shekwolo’s remarks come less than two weeks after another APC chieftain, Francis Fadahunsi, a senator representing Osun East, came under criticisms over comments concerning members of the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
On August 11, The ICIR reported that a video had surfaced showing Fadahunsi calling on his supporters to kill Accord Party members they encountered in Ilesa ahead of the poll.
The senator was seen addressing a crowd in Yoruba and saying, “until the election period, whenever you see them, kill them.”
The remarks triggered public outrage, particularly because they came days before the August 15 governorship election.
Fadahunsi later denied advocating violence. In a statement issued through his media aide, he said his remarks were misunderstood and were intended as a call for his supporters to defeat the Accord Party at the polls.
The senator later honoured police invitation over the remarks but no further actions against him have been communicated to the public
The development nevertheless added to concerns over inflammatory political rhetoric by members of the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While Fadahunsi’s remarks concerned alleged attacks against an opposition party during an election campaign, Shekwolo’s comments directly targeted residents of his area council over their choice of political association.
