The chief protocol officer to the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Tumaka Danlami Stephen, has dismissed allegations that the council chairman, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, threatened residents who may refuse to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tumaka said the chairman’s remarks, which sparked controversy after a video circulated on social media, were taken out of context and intended to encourage residents to support the ruling party in appreciation of development projects underway in Kuje.
The controversy followed a statement by the Peter Obi Grassroots Mobilisation accusing Shekwolo of threatening residents who would not support the APC.
The group based its allegation on a video in which the council chairman was heard saying: “I have said in my area council, it is either you are doing APC or leave the area council.”
Shekwolo was also heard linking his position to development projects being executed in Kuje by the FCT Administration under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“You know why? I cannot have the minister doing for us what they are doing, and then, on the day of the election, you will now say that you want to match me; I will not take it. It is either you are with us,” he said in the video.
Reacting, the Peter Obi Grassroots Mobilisation described the statement as an alleged threat to democracy and an attempt to interfere with residents’ constitutional right to freely choose their preferred political parties and candidates.
The group said Nigerians had the right to determine whom they would support politically without intimidation, coercion or threats.
“We have received with great sadness reports that the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, FCT, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, has threatened those who will not vote for or support the APC in the area to leave immediately.
“This is a direct threat to democracy. We firmly reject such statements. Nigerians have the fundamental right to choose whom to support freely,” the group said.
It subsequently demanded that the council chairman withdraw the alleged remarks and tender an apology to residents of the Kuje Area Council and Nigerians.
However, Tumaka rejected the interpretation, insisting that the chairman did not threaten anyone or seek to deprive residents of their right to vote for candidates of their choice.
According to him, Shekwolo was only urging residents to reciprocate what he described as the unprecedented development being witnessed in Kuje under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“The video did not mean what is being represented by the public. The message he was trying to pass across was that with the good work the people of Kuje Area Council are enjoying from the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, which has never happened before in the history of the council, there is every reason to give the minister back the support that he deserves,” Tumaka said.
He explained that the chairman viewed the ongoing projects as dividends of democracy and was appealing to residents to support the government responsible for delivering them.
Tumaka said Shekwolo was particularly addressing youths and other residents of Kuje and the FCT, encouraging them to support President Tinubu and APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
He, however, stressed that the chairman recognised every citizen’s right to make an independent political choice.
“He was just trying to encourage the youths of FCT and Kuje Area Council that a good turn deserves another. He didn’t mean anything negative. Everyone has the right to vote for whoever they want to vote for, but he is appealing that they should vote for the ruling party because of the massive development they have brought to the council,” he said.
The protocol officer said the chairman’s message was essentially an appeal for political reciprocity, rather than an attempt to force residents to vote for the APC.
“He also meant that if anybody is not ready to vote for the APC in the council, with the development that is coming to the council, it means they are not lovers of the council,” he added.
