The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate arrest of Kuje Area Council Chairman, Samuel Shekwolo, over his reported claim that residents must vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the council area.
The ADC described the remark as “a threat of forced displacement” and said it violated Sections 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party compared Shekwolo’s comment with that of APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who was questioned and released without charge after threatening opposition voters during the recent Osun governorship election.
The ADC also linked the remarks to President Bola Tinubu’s July 29 comment that, “All is fair in politics,” and urged the president to clarify his statement and call his party to order.
The party asked the National Peace Committee to act now, warning that waiting until 2027 could leave it issuing condolences instead of appeals.
ADC urged the Inspector-General of Police and DSS to arrest Shekwolo and charge him. Abdullahi said, “Not to invite him. Not to engage him. Not to invite him for a chat and release him before the ink on the headline is dry. Arrest him, charge him, and let a court of law decide.”
ActionAid Nigeria also condemned the reported statement, calling it a threat to democratic freedoms.
Country Director Dr Andrew Mamedu said, “This is deeply concerning. If an elected council chairman openly tells citizens that they must support a political party to continue living in an area under his administration, we must ask what message this sends to citizens who support other political parties or choose not to support any political party at all.”
He said public office must not become an instrument of “political intimidation, exclusion or coercion”.
