Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to investigate and hold accountable the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, over alleged threats of violence against residents who refuse to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The rights organisation said it was deeply concerned that Shekwolo had allegedly made remarks suggesting that voting for the APC was a condition for residents of Kuje to live peacefully and freely exercise their civic rights.
According to Amnesty International, neither security agencies nor the political party had publicly demonstrated that the council chairman was being held accountable for the alleged remarks.
The organisation also expressed concern that Shekwolo had yet to publicly apologise or show remorse over what it described as reckless and irresponsible comments.
Amnesty International said any attempt to use threats or violence to influence the political choices of citizens was unlawful and constituted a serious threat to democratic rights and public safety.
The organisation urged Nigerian authorities to take immediate steps to protect residents from political violence and guarantee their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
It stressed that political leaders, irrespective of party affiliation, must be held accountable where they are found to have carried out, incited or threatened politically or ethnically motivated violence or other human rights abuses.
“Any elected politician or other leader responsible for carrying out, inciting or threatening politically or ethnically motivated violence or human rights abuses must be held to account,” Amnesty International said.
The organisation maintained that the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights must not be subjected to political affiliation, adding that Nigerian authorities have a responsibility to ensure that no individual uses political influence or public office to intimidate or threaten members of the public.
