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As Amnesty Condemns Chairman
- Safiu Kehinde
The Kuje Area Council Chairman, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, has come under fire over viral video of him threatening residents of the Federal Capital Territory community to either support the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming 2027 General Election or leave the council.
Shekwolo made the threat while speaking at a recent engagement with some other APC stakeholders in the FCT.
The council chairman, as captured in a clip of his address posted on X on Tuesday by human rights group, Amnesty Nigeria, disclosed threatening the residents as vowed to ensure the eviction of any resident who vote against the APC at the forthcoming election.
‘I have said it in my Area Council, it is either you pick APC or leave the Area Council.
‘You know why, I cannot have minister and president doing for us what they are doing, then on the day of election, you will now come and say you want to sly me.
I will not agree. It is either you are with us or out.’ He said.
The council chairman had strongly been condemned by members of the public with Amnesty, in a statement attached to the clip, accusing him of plan to unleash violence against Kuje residents.
Amnesty held that no one has the right to make living in a place in Nigeria tied to joining or voting for one political party.
‘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.
‘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. People’s right to political choices must be respected and upheld.
‘No one has the right to make living in a place in Nigeria tied to joining or voting for one political party.’ Amnesty wrote.
The group labelled the Kuje council chairman a danger to the society as it called on the police and other security agenceis to halt his alleged violence plot.
‘The police and other security agencies must immediately halt this plan to use violence on people for their political choices.
‘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.’ It added.