The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Mr Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, over his reported directive that residents must support or vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the council.
The opposition party described the reported statement as a serious threat to citizens’ constitutional rights and an apparent attempt to use political power to intimidate residents and restrict their freedom to choose the political party of their choice.
ADC, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter and, where the reported statement is established, prosecute the council chairman in accordance with the law.
The party also demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally clarify his reported 29 July 2026 statement that “all is fair in politics,” arguing that the remark could be interpreted by some political actors as a licence for intimidation, voter suppression or other unlawful conduct.
The ADC further linked the Kuje controversy to allegations involving APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi during the recent Osun State governorship election, where the senator was reported to have made threatening remarks concerning opposition voters.
The party said the two incidents should not be treated as isolated political statements but as matters requiring urgent attention ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ADC said: “It has received with grave concern the reported declaration by the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Mr Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, that residents of Kuje must join or vote for the All Progressives Congress or leave the council area.
“If accurately reported, such a statement is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy.
“A sitting elected official entrusted with the welfare and security of residents cannot condition their right to live in their community on their political affiliation or voting preference.
“The ADC considers the reported statement a serious matter that should be promptly investigated by the relevant security agencies.
“We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services to investigate the allegation and, if the statement is established, take appropriate legal action against Mr Shekwolo.
“This is not a matter that should be reduced to a political disagreement. It concerns the fundamental rights of citizens.
“Sections 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution protect citizens’ rights to freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom from discrimination. No Nigerian should be threatened with displacement, discrimination or denial of basic rights because of his or her political affiliation or voting preference.
“Mr Shekwolo was elected to serve all residents of Kuje Area Council, regardless of the political parties they support. His responsibility is therefore to protect the rights and welfare of every resident, not only those who support his political party.
“The arithmetic of his own electoral mandate makes this point even more compelling. He was reportedly returned with 17,269 votes, while the PDP candidate received 15,824 votes and the APGA candidate 4,305 votes.
“That means a substantial number of residents did not vote for him. Yet they remain citizens and residents of Kuje and are entitled to equal protection under the law.”
The ADC said that it is also concerned that the Kuje incident comes against the backdrop of other allegations of inflammatory political statements.
“During the 15 August 2026 Osun governorship election, Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the APC was reported to have made statements threatening opposition supporters and warning voters against supporting candidates he did not favour.
“The senator was subsequently questioned by the police and released without charge, according to reports.
“Whatever the circumstances of that incident, the ADC believes that allegations involving threats of violence or intimidation during elections must be investigated transparently and conclusively.
“A political system in which inflammatory statements are made without meaningful consequences risks creating a dangerous impression that political power can be used to intimidate citizens without accountability.”
The ADC said that it is against this background that it is also asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally clarify his 29 July 2026 remark that “all is fair in politics.”
“The President’s words carry considerable weight, particularly among elected officials and political actors within his party.
“If the statement was not intended to suggest that political actors could employ intimidation, threats, voter suppression or other unlawful methods in pursuit of political advantage, the President should make that clear,” the party said.
