A lawsuit has been instituted against the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, over his alleged directive that residents must support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the council area.
The suit, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is challenging what the applicants described as an attempt to tie residents’ right to live in Kuje to their political affiliation.
Politics Nigeria reports that the case, marked FCT/HC/CV/3984/2026, was instituted by Chronicles Reporters News Limited and Paul Bem Mannaseh, an African Action Congress member and resident of Kuje Area Council.
Represented by their lawyers, the applicants are asking the court to intervene over the alleged infringement of their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association and movement, as well as protection from discrimination.
The legal action followed a video circulating online in which Shekwolo was allegedly heard declaring: “I have said in my area council that it’s either you are for the APC or you leave the area council. I am not arguing about it at all.”
Relying on Sections 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the applicants want the court to declare the alleged statement unconstitutional and unlawful.
They are also seeking a perpetual injunction preventing Shekwolo, his agents and representatives from implementing or encouraging any policy or action that could intimidate, harass, discriminate against or expel residents because of their political affiliation, beliefs or opinions.
The applicants are demanding N100m in exemplary and aggravated damages, alongside an order directing the council chairman to issue a public apology and publish it in two national newspapers.
They further want security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate the alleged statement and establish whether it constitutes an electoral offence under the Electoral Act 2022 or other applicable laws.
The lead applicant, Mannaseh, said the case was aimed at testing the limits of the powers of elected officials and whether such officials could demand political allegiance from residents.
Mannaseh argued that an elected public office did not confer ownership of the territory governed by the office holder or the power to determine the political identity of its residents.
According to him, citizens should be free to live, associate and express their political views without being subjected to threats because of their choice of political party.
Mannaseh said the alleged declaration was a direct threat to opposition supporters in the area.
He maintained that the applicants were not prepared to be forced into political conformity or driven from their community because of their political affiliation.
The applicants argued that the controversy transcended ordinary partisan disagreement because the alleged statement was attributed to a serving local government chairman and appeared to make continued residence in the Area Council conditional on political loyalty.
They want the court to determine whether such a declaration amounts to an unlawful attempt to restrict citizens’ constitutional rights to expression, association, movement and residence.
The suit also raises questions about the limits of political authority at the grassroots and whether elected officials can lawfully discriminate against residents based on their political choices.
They maintain that Kuje Area Council is a public territory belonging to all residents, irrespective of the political parties they support.
They are consequently asking the court to determine whether residents can be compelled to support the party controlling the council as a condition for remaining in the area.