The Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, has told residents opposed to the All Progressives Congress, APC, to leave the council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Shekwolo made the statement in a video circulating on social media, where he said he would not tolerate opposition to the APC or President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the area council.
According to him, residents should support the ruling party because of what he described as development projects being executed in Kuje by the Tinubu administration and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The chairman said his position was non-negotiable, adding that he would oppose any move by residents to work against the APC in the 2027 elections.
“I have said in my area council that it’s either you are for the APC or you leave the area council. I am not arguing about it at all,” Shekwolo said.
He questioned why residents would vote against the APC despite what he described as interventions by Tinubu and Wike in Kuje.
“You know why? I cannot have the Minister and the President doing what they are doing, then on the day of the election, you will now say you want to match me. I will not agree,” he said.
“It’s either you are with us or you are against us,” the chairman added.
The comments have sparked reactions on social media, with some users questioning the implication of the statement in a democratic society.
A Facebook user, Morohunkeji Adegbite, asked: “So you mean there should not be opposition party in democracy?”
Another user, Nijim Bisi, described the statement as a threat, saying, “This is a direct threat to lives. I hope DSS are seeing them now o.”
Banebo Ernest asked: “The real question now is: Where is our DSS?”
Ishaku Suleiman, who said he knows the chairman personally, expressed disappointment over the remarks.
“He is my neighbor and I hold him very high as young vibrant politician that God has favoured, but hearing such statements is disappointing. He is a cool gentle man but I know he is in learning process,” he said.
Njoku Beck Uchenna also urged the international community to take note of such statements, saying, “They are gradually getting the masses ready. International community should be documenting it so that the aggressor will not be seen as the oppressed.”
Shekwolo’s comments come amid increasing political mobilisation and preparations by political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
