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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the arrest and prosecution of Kuje Area Council Chairman, Danjuma Shekwolo, over comments urging residents to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the council.
The demand follows a viral video in which Shekwolo said he would not tolerate opposition from residents whom he claimed had benefited from the policies of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the remarks as a threat against residents and a violation of their constitutional rights to political association, freedom of movement and protection from discrimination.
The party urged the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter and prosecute the council chairman in accordance with the law.
The ADC argued that as an elected official, Shekwolo has a duty to serve all residents of Kuje, regardless of their political affiliation or voting preference.
It noted that the APC chairman won the Kuje chairmanship election with 17,269 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate polled 15,824 votes and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate secured 4,305 votes, stressing that he represents both supporters and opponents alike.
The opposition party also linked the incident to what it described as a growing trend of political intimidation, citing alleged remarks by Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
According to the ADC, the two incidents reflect a pattern of impunity that could undermine Nigeria's democratic process if left unchecked.
The party further called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly clarify his July 29 statement that "all is fair in politics," arguing that the comment could be interpreted as endorsing political intimidation and voter suppression.
It urged the President to state unequivocally that his remarks should not be seen as a licence for threats, violence or the intimidation of political opponents, and to call both Shekwolo and Fadahunsi to order.
