VIDEO: Kuje council chairman threatens to expel residents who won’t vote APC
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Chairman of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, has threatened to expel residents who do not support or vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a video of a meeting with some of his supporters, he said it would be unacceptable to allow people who would not vote for the APC to continue living in the area. He advised them to relocate.
He said: “I have said in my area council that it’s either you vote the APC or you leave the area council. You know why? I cannot have the minister doing what he is doing and on the day of the election you now say you don’t want to vote APC. I will not gree (I won’t agree),” he said amid applause from the audience.
Reacting to the threat, Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the alleged comment. It disclosed this in a statement posted on its X platform on Tuesday.
The organisation described the alleged threat as a call to violence and an attack on residents’ freedom of association and liberty.
It said no individual should be forced to join or vote for a political party as a condition for continuing to live in any part of Nigeria.
Amnesty International called on the police and other security agencies to intervene and prevent any attempt to use violence against residents on account of their political choices.
The organisation also urged authorities to hold Shekwolo accountable if the alleged threats are established.
It warned that any attempt to unleash violence against residents based on their political affiliations or choices could endanger lives and have wider consequences.
Amnesty International stressed that residents’ right to make independent political choices must be respected and protected.
