Kuje Area Council Chairman Danjuma Shekwolo has told residents to support the APC or leave the council, sparking condemnation from Amnesty International.
The Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Danjuma Shekwolo, has sparked controversy after telling residents they must support the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the area council.
Shekwolo made the remarks in a video circulating on X, where he said residents should not oppose the APC after benefiting from development projects under President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
“I have said in my area council, it’s either you are doing APC or leave the area council. I am not arguing with you,” Shekwolo said.
The chairman also questioned why residents who benefited from government projects would support another political party during elections.
His comments have drawn condemnation from Amnesty International Nigeria, which described the remarks as a threat to residents’ freedom of association and political choice.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said political affiliation should not determine whether Nigerians are allowed to live in Kuje.
Amnesty International urged security agencies to take action, warning that linking residency in the area council to support for the APC could create tension, encourage political violence and place residents at risk.
The organisation said public officials have no authority to determine where Nigerians can live based on their political allegiance or preferred candidate.
It also called for Shekwolo to be held accountable over what it described as threats against residents who may choose not to support the ruling party.
Amnesty stressed that Nigerians have a constitutional right to choose their political affiliations and candidates without intimidation, coercion or threats.
Shekwolo, an APC candidate, won the Kuje Area Council chairmanship election in February with 17,269 votes.
He defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Zakwoyi Danlami, who polled 15,824 votes.