By Prevail Inegbenose
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, over his reported directive that residents should support the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the council.
In a video circulating on social media on Tuesday, Shekwolo was seen telling residents who were unwilling to support the APC to leave the area council.
The party described the alleged statement as a threat of forced displacement and a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest and charge the council chairman, arguing that his position as an elected official imposed a responsibility on him to protect all residents irrespective of their political affiliation.
The party cited Sections 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which it said guarantee freedom of association, the right of citizens to reside in any part of the country and protection against discrimination on the basis of political opinion.
The ADC said: “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 party also questioned the arithmetic behind the chairman’s alleged position, noting that Shekwolo won his election with 17,269 votes, while the PDP and APGA candidates reportedly secured 15,824 and 4,305 votes respectively.
According to the ADC, this means that a substantial number of residents did not vote for the chairman but remained entitled to his protection and representation.
The opposition party further linked the Kuje controversy to alleged threats made by APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi during the August 15 Osun governorship election.
The ADC alleged that Fadahunsi had threatened opposition supporters and voters, including a reported statement that those who voted for an undesignated candidate should be “dealt with,” as well as an earlier alleged threat against members of the Accord Party.
It noted that the senator was questioned by the police but released without being charged, describing the development as evidence of a growing culture of impunity.
The party also drew a connection between the incidents and a July 29, 2026 statement attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a meeting with Catholic bishops in Abuja, in which the President reportedly said, “All is fair in politics.”
The ADC demanded that Tinubu personally clarify the statement and publicly state that it was not intended to authorise 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.
It also called on the National Peace Committee to intervene before the 2027 general elections, warning that failure to address alleged political threats early could have serious consequences.
The ADC outlined seven demands, including the immediate arrest and prosecution of Shekwolo; reopening and prosecution of the case involving Fadahunsi; preservation of video, audio and documentary evidence relating to both incidents; and a personal clarification from President Tinubu.
The party also demanded that the APC publicly disown Shekwolo’s alleged statement and discipline him, while urging the council chairman to retract the statement and apologise publicly to Kuje residents.
It further called on domestic and international election observers to identify the FCT and Osun State as early-warning locations ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ADC said Nigerians should not be treated as tenants whose right to reside in their communities depends on their support for a political party.
“Nigerians are not tenants in their own country, holding their residency at the pleasure of a ruling party. We are citizens,” the party declared.