A political firestorm erupted in Kuje after Chairman Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo was accused of telling residents to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the area council.
The comment, captured in a widely shared social-media video, triggered demands for police and security agencies to investigate the chairman. Shekwolo has since pushed back, saying his words were taken out of context and that he never intended to threaten or exclude residents based on their political allegiance.
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The remark that sparked outrage
In the video, Shekwolo appears to tell residents that they must either support the APC or leave the area council.
The statement quickly drew condemnation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which accused the chairman of threatening residents who support rival political parties.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi argued that such a statement could amount to a threat of forced displacement. He pointed to constitutional protections covering freedom of association, movement and equal treatment.
The party subsequently called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.
The ADC said authorities should treat the allegation as a potential criminal matter rather than simply summoning the chairman for an informal discussion.
The party also stressed that Shekwolo’s election did not give him authority over only APC supporters. Residents who backed other candidates, it argued, remain entitled to representation and protection under the law.
Shekwolo: “My words were taken out of context”
Facing mounting criticism, Shekwolo addressed journalists in Kuje alongside APC stakeholders.
He said the meeting where the controversial statement was made focused primarily on governance, development and the welfare of the community.
According to the chairman, his remarks were not intended to intimidate residents, suppress political opposition or interfere with anyone’s rights.
He maintained that his administration has a responsibility to serve every resident, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity or religion.
Shekwolo also acknowledged an important limitation on his office: the chairman cannot strip residents of rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
He urged journalists and the public to consider the broader context surrounding contentious remarks rather than relying solely on isolated excerpts.
Another party joins the condemnation
The controversy has now spread beyond the ADC.
The Accord Party in the Federal Capital Territory has also condemned the remark.
Its FCT chairman, Vaniah Akanimoh Agbon, described the reported statement as unacceptable and argued that Kuje Area Council belongs to its entire population—not to a political party or the official currently occupying the chairman’s seat.
What happens next?
The dispute now hinges on a central question: Was Shekwolo making a political appeal that was later distorted, or did his words amount to a genuine threat against political opponents?
His clarification may calm the controversy, but the opposition parties’ calls for official action ensure that the issue is unlikely to disappear quickly.
For residents, the larger concern goes beyond one disputed statement. It is whether political affiliation will influence how citizens are treated by the authority responsible for governing them.
That question is likely to remain at the centre of the debate as calls for accountability continue.