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Amnesty International has strongly condemned the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the FCT, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, over an alleged threat to chase out residents who refuse to join or vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The human rights group made its stance known in a Tuesday statement.
In an undated video shared by Amnesty on Facebook, Shekwolo can be heard saying, “I’ve said in my area council, it’s either you are doing APC or leave the area council. I’m not hiding it at all.”
According to the rights group, the council chairman’s remark constitutes a direct threat to lives and an attack on freedom of association and liberty of persons.
“Authoritatively saying that those who will not vote APC must leave Kuje Area Council is a direct threat to lives and an attack on freedom of association and liberty of persons,” Amnesty said.
The organisation added that no one has the right to tie living in any part of Nigeria to voting for a particular political party.
“The police and other security agencies must halt this plan to use violence on people for their political choices,” it stated.
Amnesty further described the chairman as “a danger to society” and called for him to be held to account for threatening violence against those who may not vote for APC.
The group stressed that government has an obligation to ensure that, before and after all elections, human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled, as guaranteed under international human rights law and standards and the Nigerian Constitution.
