Kuje area council chairman, Samuel Shekwolo

Amnesty International and Yiaga Africa have condemned the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Shekwolo, over alleged threats to eject residents who refuse to join or vote for the All Progressives Congress in 2027.

Amnesty, in a post on X, described the alleged threat as a call to violence and an attack on freedom of association and the liberty of persons, adding that no public official has the right to make residence in any part of Nigeria conditional on membership of or support for a political party.

Shekwolo, who was elected Kuje Area Council chairman on the APC platform in the February 2026 FCT Area Council election, in a video circulating on social media on Tuesday, warned residents who do not support the party to leave the council ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council chairman said his position was informed by what he described as the developmental efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Kuje.

He said residents could not benefit from the administration’s interventions and subsequently vote against the APC at the 2027 elections.

“I have said in my area council, it’s either you are doing APC or leave the area council; I’m not hiding that. With confidence, I’m saying it.

“You know why: I cannot have the President and minister doing what they are doing, and on the day of election, you will want to match me. It’s either you are with us, or you are out,” he said.

The remark sparked concerns over the use of political rhetoric by public officials as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

Reacting, Amnesty International said, “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.

“No one has the right to make living in a place in Nigeria tied to joining or voting for one political party.”

It urged the police and other security agencies to immediately intervene and prevent any attempt to use violence against residents because of their political choices.

“The police and other security agencies must immediately halt this plan to use violence on people for their political choices,” it said.

Amnesty International further described Shekwolo as “a danger to society” and called for him to be held accountable for allegedly threatening violence against residents who might not vote for the APC.

It warned that any plan to unleash violence against residents who do not support the APC in Kuje Area Council could have wider consequences and put lives at risk.

“This plan to unleash violence on those who are not supporting the APC in Kuje Area Council will have a wider impact and will put lives at risk,” it said.

The organisation stressed that residents’ rights to make independent political choices must be respected and protected.

“People’s right to political choices must be respected and upheld,” Amnesty International added.

Reacting in a statement, Yiaga Africa described the remarks as “irresponsible, inflammatory and highly condemnable,” stressing that no public official should threaten a citizen’s right to reside in any part of Nigeria because of his or her political choice.

The civil society organisation said the development was particularly concerning as political activities intensified ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Such rhetoric is irresponsible, inflammatory and highly condemnable. No public official should threaten, intimidate or question a citizen’s right to reside in any part of Nigeria because of their political choice,” the statement said.

Yiaga Africa urged the Presidency and the APC to publicly distance themselves from the remarks and caution their officials and supporters against what it described as threats, intimidation and inflammatory rhetoric.

The organisation also linked the development to the recent peace accord signed by political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

It said the commitments contained in the accord should be reflected not only in the signatures of political actors but also in the conduct and public statements of their leaders and supporters.

“This is particularly important given the commitments contained in the peace accord signed less than two weeks ago,” Yiaga Africa said.

“Political parties and their candidates must demonstrate those commitments not merely through signatures, but through the conduct and rhetoric of their leaders and supporters.

“No Nigerian should be threatened with eviction from their community because of how they choose to vote,” the statement added.