By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Following increase in threats by some politicians that those not disposed to vote for their preferred candidates and parties should be violently manhandled, The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Samuel Shekwolo, over his alleged declaration that residents of the council must support or vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the area.
The ADC also called for further investigation into the remarks r=credited to APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who threatened that those that would not vote for the APC in the just concluded Osun governorship election should be “killed”.
The opposition party described the reported statement as a “threat of forced displacement” and an infringement on citizens’ constitutional rights.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest and prosecute Shekwolo rather than merely invite him for questioning.
The party alleged that the council chairman’s remarks violated Sections 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which respectively guarantee freedom of association, freedom of movement and protection against discrimination.
“Let us be clear about what this is: A sitting elected official, in whose custody the safety and welfare of every resident of Kuje has been placed, has publicly tied a citizen’s right to live in his own country to the party that they vote for.
“That is a threat of forced displacement, the ADC stated.”
The party also questioned the chairman’s alleged position against the backdrop of the votes recorded in his election, noting that thousands of Kuje residents had voted for other political parties.
It said the chairman had a responsibility to protect all residents irrespective of their political affiliations.
The ADC said the Kuje incident should not be treated as an isolated political outburst, linking it to alleged threats made by APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi during the August 15 Osun governorship election.
According to the party, Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, allegedly warned opposition supporters against voting for candidates other than those preferred by his party.
The ADC recalled that Fadahunsi was questioned by the police following the alleged threats but was subsequently released without being charged.
The party argued that the absence of consequences for such statements could encourage other political actors to make similar threats.
“When a Senator can threaten to kill voters and keep his seat, a council chairman will conclude, quite reasonably, that he can threaten to evict them without consequences,” it said.
The ADC also linked the alleged incidents to a statement attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a meeting with Catholic bishops in Abuja on July 29, when he reportedly said, “All is fair in politics.”
The opposition party said the President should publicly clarify the meaning of the statement and make it clear that it did not amount to a licence for intimidation, voter suppression, violence or forced displacement.
“If that is not what the President meant, he should say so himself, and he should say so now,” the party said.
The ADC urged Tinubu to publicly call Shekwolo and Fadahunsi to order and said a clarification issued by presidential aides would not be sufficient.
“The words were the President’s. The correction must be the President’s. Silence at this point is not neutrality. Silence is ratification,” it said.
The party also appealed to the National Peace Committee to intervene before the 2027 elections, warning that political threats and alleged impunity could escalate electoral violence.
It urged the committee to publicly address what it described as a growing pattern involving political threats, alleged voter intimidation and inadequate sanctions.
“We invite the Committee to speak, publicly and without ambiguity, while speaking still costs nothing but courage. If it waits until 2027, it will be issuing condolences, not appeals,” the ADC said.
The ADC consequently made seven demands, including the immediate arrest and prosecution of Shekwolo and the reopening and prosecution of the case involving Fadahunsi.
It also demanded the preservation by the police, DSS and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of all video, audio and documentary evidence relating to the incidents.
Other demands include a public clarification by President Tinubu on his “all is fair in politics” comment, disciplinary action against Shekwolo by the APC, a public apology from the Kuje chairman, and the designation of the FCT and Osun as early-warning locations by domestic and international election observers ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ADC insisted that Nigerians were citizens with constitutionally guaranteed rights and could not be treated as tenants whose right to reside in any part of the country depended on their political affiliation.
“Nigerians are not tenants in their own country, holding their residency at the pleasure of a ruling party. We are citizens,” the party declared.
