Kuje Chairman Under Fire: 'Vote APC Or Leave' Threat Sparks Outrage, Arrest Demands

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vehemently condemned the Kuje Area Council Chairman, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, following his reported declaration that residents must either vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 or vacate the Council Area. The ADC describes this statement as a direct threat of forced displacement, asserting that it contravenes Sections 40, 41, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of association, residence, and non-discrimination based on political opinion.

In response to Shekwolo's remarks, the ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Chairman by the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services. The party emphasized that an invitation for a chat would be insufficient, calling for a formal charge to be decided by a court of law. The ADC stated that Shekwolo, an elected official entrusted with the safety and welfare of Kuje residents, publicly tied a citizen’s right to live in their country to their political affiliation, viewing this as an invitation to anarchy in a nation prone to political violence.

The ADC highlighted that Shekwolo's mandate, secured with 17,269 votes against 15,824 for the PDP and 4,305 for APGA, means thousands of residents did not vote for him, yet he holds a responsibility towards all. The party argued that the Chairman violated his oath to the Constitution by infringing upon fundamental rights.

This incident is not seen as an isolated event by the ADC, which linked it to a broader pattern of political intimidation. The party drew parallels to Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the APC, who, during the Osun governorship election in August 2026, allegedly threatened opposition voters, stating that anyone voting against the preferred candidate should be “dealt with” and even threatening to kill Accord Party members. The ADC noted that despite these serious allegations, Senator Fadahunsi was questioned by the police but released without charge or consequence.

The ADC connected both Shekwolo’s and Fadahunsi’s comments to President Bola Tinubu’s declaration on July 29, 2026, that “all is fair in politics.” The party believes these words from the President have been interpreted as an instruction by office-holders, fostering a culture of impunity where threats of violence and forced displacement are perceived to be without repercussions.

Consequently, the ADC demanded that President Tinubu personally clarify his “all is fair in politics” statement, explicitly stating it is not a license for intimidation, voter suppression, violence, or forced displacement. The party urged the President to publicly call his officials and elected members to order by name, starting with Mr. Shekwolo and Senator Fadahunsi, asserting that a clarification from aides would be insufficient and that presidential silence would be seen as ratification.

Furthermore, the ADC appealed to the National Peace Committee to speak out publicly and unambiguously now, rather than waiting until 2027, by which time, they warned, it might be issuing condolences instead of appeals. The party views the current sequence of events – a President’s remark, a Senator’s death threat, a chairman’s eviction notice, and a lack of police accountability – as precisely the pattern the Committee should exist to interrupt.

In a subsequent reaction, Kuje Area Council Chairman Danjuma Shekwolo stated on Wednesday that his controversial call for residents to support the APC or leave the council was