Kuje Area Council Chairman, Samuel Shekwolo, has warned residents of Kuje to vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections or be chased out of their homes.

Mr Shekwolo’s warning was captured in a video on Tuesday.

The council chairman is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“I’ve said in my area council, it is either you are doing APC or leave the area council,” Mr Shekwolo said. “I am not hiding it. I’m saying it with all confidence.” 

Justifying his warning that every Kuje residents must vote the APC, Mr Shekwolo said, “You now why? I cannot have the minister appointed doing the work he is doing in the area council  and anyone will say they are not voting us.”

He added, “If you are not with us, you have to leave the area council.”

The video has gone viral and elicited reactions from Nigerians as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Human rights organisation, Amnesty International, strongly condemned Mr Shekwolo for “threatening to chase out from the area anybody who will not join or vote for APC. Authoritatively saying that those who will not vote APC must leave Kuje area council is a call to violence and direct attack on freedom of association and liberty of persons.”

It added, “No one has the right to make living in a place in Nigeria tied to joining or voting for one political party. The police and other security agencies must immediately halt this plan to use violence on people for their political choices.

“Mr Shekwolo is a danger to society and must be held to account for threatening violence on those who may not vote for

APC. This plan to unleash violence on those who are not supporting APC in Kuje area council will have wider impact and will put lives at risk. People’s right to political choices must be respected and upheld.”