CHRICED condemns Kuje Chairman’s anti-democratic remark, demands investigation

Jeremiah Adeshina

Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has condemned an alleged statement by the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, directing residents who do not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave the area council.

CHRICED, in a statement issued and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, described the reported comment as “reckless, provocative and dangerous,” warning that it could deepen political intolerance and threaten the rights and safety of opposition supporters.

According to the organisation, a publicly circulating video purportedly shows the Kuje Area Council chairman declaring: “It’s either you are doing APC or leave the Area Council,” while also vowing not to tolerate residents who “work against” the APC.

CHRICED said the alleged statement was particularly disturbing because it was reportedly made by an elected public official who has a constitutional responsibility to serve all residents of the area regardless of their political affiliations.

The organisation stressed that Kuje Area Council does not belong to any political party and that no Nigerian should be compelled to support a particular political party as a condition for living peacefully within a community.

“As an elected official, the Chairman is constitutionally obligated to serve all residents of Kuje—regardless of their political affiliation. Kuje Area Council is not the private property of any political party,” the group stated.

CHRICED further argued that forcing residents to choose between supporting a political party and retaining their right to reside in a community would amount to a serious violation of fundamental rights.

The civil society organisation cited Sections 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which it said protect citizens’ freedom of association, right to freedom of movement and residence and protection against discrimination on grounds including political opinion.

It also drew attention to Section 97 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said criminalises threats, intimidation or the use of force to compel political support, noting that violations could attract fines or imprisonment.

CHRICED therefore urged the relevant authorities to establish whether the statement attributed to the Kuje chairman violated any provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act or other applicable laws.

The organisation said the incident should not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric, warning that statements capable of intimidating citizens or compelling political allegiance could create an atmosphere conducive to violence.

According to CHRICED, the Kuje incident also forms part of what it described as a growing pattern of inflammatory comments by political leaders across the country.

The organisation referenced alleged comments involving the Governor of Edo State, the Governor of Benue State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Senator Francis Fadahunsi in Osun State.

CHRICED expressed concern that what it described as silence from the APC leadership in response to some of these incidents could create the impression that political intimidation would be tolerated.

The group warned that the consequences of inflammatory political rhetoric could be severe, particularly as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections.

It noted that election-related violence had already resulted in fatalities and other serious consequences, stressing that political leaders must understand the potential impact of provocative statements on their supporters and the wider population.

“When politicians make inflammatory statements, deny them later, and face no meaningful accountability, it breeds impunity,” CHRICED said.

It argued that failure to hold public officials accountable could encourage others to issue similar threats against political opponents and their supporters.

The organisation also expressed concern about the effectiveness of political peace accords, arguing that such agreements would have little value if political parties and their officials continued to make statements capable of threatening peaceful coexistence.

According to CHRICED, peace agreements should not merely be ceremonial documents signed in front of cameras but should be backed by mechanisms capable of ensuring accountability when politicians or their supporters violate agreed standards of conduct.

Calls for investigation

Against this backdrop, CHRICED called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities to immediately investigate the alleged statement by the Kuje chairman.

It urged the authorities to determine whether the statement violated the Constitution, Electoral Act or any other law and to take appropriate legal action if wrongdoing was established.

The organisation also pointed out that local government chairmen do not enjoy constitutional immunity from investigation or prosecution.

CHRICED further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC to publicly condemn the alleged statement and make it clear that support for the APC is not a condition for residence, access to public services or peaceful existence anywhere in Nigeria.

The organisation also asked Shekwolo to withdraw the statement, apologise to Kuje residents and reaffirm their right to support any political party of their choice.

It called on INEC, security agencies, the National Peace Committee and political parties to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring inflammatory political speech ahead of the 2027 elections.

CHRICED maintained that violations of political peace commitments should attract appropriate consequences to deter future threats and intimidation.

The organisation warned that Nigerians must be allowed to participate in political activities without fear of eviction, intimidation or violence.

“Political competition should be about ideas, policies and votes—not threats, exclusion or coercion,” it stated.

CHRICED urged the relevant authorities to act swiftly, warning that failure to investigate the incident and take appropriate action could send a dangerous signal ahead of the 2027 elections.

It stressed that the prevention of electoral violence must begin before threats translate into physical attacks, insisting that authorities must respond to inflammatory political rhetoric before it escalates into violence.

CHRICED therefore urged the authorities to act immediately, warning that the time to prevent electoral violence is before citizens are attacked, rather than after lives and property have been lost.