RismadarVoice Reporters
September 20, 2026
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, concerns are being raised over threatening and coercive statements attributed to some officials and political actors of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The reported incidents include remarks attributed to officials in Borno State, the Federal Capital Territory and Ebonyi State. Opposition figures and civil society organisations have called for investigations, arguing that such statements could intimidate voters and undermine political participation.
In Borno, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Sainna Buba was reported to have threatened opponents of President Bola Tinubu during a political gathering. Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the remarks and called for an investigation. Buba subsequently said he had been quoted out of context.
In Kuje, Abuja, Area Council Chairman Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo was reported to have told residents that they should either support the APC or leave the area. The National Human Rights Commission described the statement as intimidating and called for investigations by relevant authorities.
In Ebonyi, Governor Francis Nwifuru has also faced allegations from opposition and civil society groups over statements they interpreted as threatening political competition. Those allegations have not been established as findings of wrongdoing.
The article notes that political tensions have previously been accompanied by violence during Nigerian elections. Media and observer reports recorded deaths, attacks on political actors and other forms of electoral violence during the 2023 election cycle and earlier elections.
Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2026 contains provisions against threatening people with force or violence during political ton order to influence political support. Section 97(1), as cited by lawyer Marcellus Onah, prohibits such conduct, while Section 96(2) addresses abusive or inflammatory campaign language capable of provoking violent reactions.
The Constitution also guarantees freedom of association, including the right to belong to a political party.
The concerns come after major political parties signed the National Peace Accord on August 18, pledging peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections. Some of the reported incidents occurred after that agreement.
The reported cases remain at different stages, with some investigations announced but no published outcomes at the time of the article.
The broader issue is whether political campaigning can proceed without intimidation, violence or restrictions on voters’ political choices as the 2027 election period approaches.
