NHRC, AIN demand arrest of Abuja council boss over ‘vote APC or relocate’ threat

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for the arrest of the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Samuel Shekwolo, for reportedly asking residents to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 or relocate from the area council.

Also, Amnesty International Nigeria (AIN) has frowned on the failure of security agencies to hold Shekwolo to account over the threat.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Institute of Social Media Analysts (NISMA) has declared the digital space a new frontline in Nigeria’s fight against fake news and hate speech ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement yesterday, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, described Shekwolo’s comment as intimidation and a direct assault on the Constitution and on democratic principles.

He stated: “In view of the foregoing, the commission is demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Shekwolo by the Nigeria Police Force.

“The commission is also calling on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately investigate and emplace protective measures to prevent the harassment, profiling or disenfranchisement of residents in Kuje ahead of the 2027 elections.”

Shekwolo was seen in a video asking residents to either vote for the ruling APC or leave the council area.

“I have said in my area council, it’s either you’re doing APC or leave the area council. I am not arguing with you. With confidence, I am saying it. You know why? I cannot have the minister and President doing for us what they are doing, and on the day of the election, you come and say you want to match me. I will not gree (sic). It is either you are with us, or you are not here,” he was quoted as saying in the video clip.

The NHRC noted that no leader had the right to banish citizens from their communities for their political affiliations.

Ojukwu called on the APC and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to issue a statement dissociating from Shekwolo’s offensive remark.

He noted that development projects cannot be used to buy people’s loyalty or coerce them into political affiliations.

Similarly, AIN, in a post on its X platform, described Shekwolo’s alleged attempt to make voting for the APC a condition for residents to live peacefully and exercise their civic rights as unlawful.

“Residents of Kuje Area Council, FCT, will continue to live in fear as no effort has been made by security agencies to hold Shekwolo to account, for threatening to unleash violence on anybody who would not vote for APC,” Amnesty said.

The organisation said such threats could undermine citizens’ rights to freely participate in elections and choose candidates or political parties of their choice.

It called on Nigerian authorities to ensure that politicians and other leaders, who carry out, incite or threaten politically, religiously or ethnically motivated violence or other human rights abuses are held accountable.

NISMA, while unveiling the National Digital Peace Ambassadors (NDPA), a movement aimed at promoting responsible use of social media and protecting national cohesion, urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the information they create, share and amplify online.

At a news conference yesterday with the theme, ‘Digital Peace and National Security: Building Responsible Voices for a United Nigeria’, National Secretary of NDPA, Erikan Obong, said the battle for Nigeria’s unity was no longer fought only in communities, markets, places of worship and political rallies. She said a significant part of the battle was now being fought on social media platforms, where Nigerians increasingly communicate, form opinions, influence others and engage in political debates.

Obong said the initiative would also help counter misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and other threatening digital content.