2027: Outrage over Borno commissioner’s threat to flog non-APC supporters

***Amnesty Int’l faults security agencies’ silence on threat against opposition
***Threat unacceptable —CISLAC
***Democracy is persuasion not intimidation— ActionAid, IPC

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA—Outrage, yesterday, trailed threats by Borno State Youth and Sports Development Commissioner, Sainna Buba, to flog those who refuse to supoort the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 general elections.

Buba had in a viral video that surfaced after the remark he made at a campaign inauguration event organised by the Tinubu City Boy Movement in Maiduguri, last weekend, said: “In politics, sometimes things go smoothly, sometimes it goes with persuasion and sometimes it goes with force.

‘’Right now, we are being persuasive, but we’ve noticed they are throwing jabs at us on TikTok. Well, it is not as if we are inefficient at blowing the whistle on politics.
“If they point fingers at us, we will point fingers at them; if they point fingers at us with malicious intent, then we will hold that finger and break it.
‘’This government is our government; follow us and enjoy honey. As for those who refuse to follow us, they will be flogged.
“We should all be aware that they will bring campaign materials for the state for us all to benefit.’’
Amnesty Int’l faults security agencies’ silence on threat against opposition
Reacting to te threat, yesterday, human rights organisation, Amnesty International, expressed concern, wondering why security agencies had yet to take action over the matter, despite overwhelming evidence.
It, in a statement, described the commissioner as a danger to democracy who must face justice over what it described as subtle incitement.
The statement read: “It is deeply concerning that, up till now and despite publicly available evidence, security agencies have not taken any action to hold Mr Sainna Buba to account for his reckless and irresponsible remarks at a rally of the ruling APC in Maiduguri on August 29.
“Threatening those who may not vote for APC is not and cannot in any way be figurative. It is a direct threat. The commissioner is a danger to democracy and must face justice for the subtle incitement.”
Threat unacceptable—CISLAC
Already reacting, the Executive Director, CISLAC/ Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Rafsanjani, vehemently condemned and declared the threat as unacceptable.
Rafsanjani said: “The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, strongly condemns the reported statement by the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, threatening that persons who refuse to support the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 general elections would be flogged.
“Such a statement, particularly coming from a serving public official, is unacceptable, undemocratic and dangerous to Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Democracy is founded on the freedom of citizens to choose their leaders without intimidation, coercion, violence, threats or fear of punishment.
“No political party, government official or supporter has the right to determine how Nigerians must vote or threaten consequences against citizens for exercising their constitutional political choices.
“Flogging or subjecting because people refuse to support a political party cannot be dismissed merely as political rhetoric or campaign enthusiasm, it is designed to violently undermine human rights of the voters.
“Borno State has suffered enormously from Boko Haram violence and now political violence, thuggery, voter intimidation and the weaponisation of vulnerable young people.
“It is disturbing when such language comes from an individual occupying public office. A commissioner is a public servant whose responsibility extends to every citizen of the state, irrespective of political affiliation.”
Recall that the chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Shekwolo, had also warned residents who do not support the, APC to leave the council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The council chairman said his position was informed by what he described as the developmental efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Kuje, warning that residents could not benefit from the administration’s interventions and subsequently vote against the APC at the 2027 elections.

Democracy is persuasion, not intimidation—ActionAid
In its reaction, the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Andrew Mamedu, said: “We are deeply concerned by the reported statement of the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development that those who refuse to support the APC would be ‘flogged’.
‘’That is not democracy. Democracy is persuasion, not intimidation. You convince citizens to vote for you; you do not threaten them into supporting you.
“Even more concerning is that this is no longer an isolated incident. Before the recent Osun governorship election, Senator Francis Fadahunsi was questioned by the police over a viral video in which he was alleged to have threatened Accord Party members.
‘’Then, only days ago, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, was captured in a video saying residents should either support the APC or leave the Area Council. He later said the statement was taken out of context, but the National Human Rights Commission went so far as to call for his arrest and prosecution.
“Now we have another public official reportedly talking about flogging people who refuse to support a political party.
“Three incidents of this nature within such a short period should concern every Nigerian. If threatening language is repeatedly used without consequences, we risk normalising intimidation before the 2027 elections.’’

Totally undemocratic— IPC
Similarly, the Executive Director, International Press Centre, IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said: “It is totally undemocratic, uncouth, and uncalled for.
“The police can call him to order through invitation because this is a clear case of threat and intention to cause harm.
“Political parties recently signed a national peace accord pleading to embrace issue-focused campaigns. They need to act according to the commitment.
“It is because of irresponsible utterances and behaviours like this that CSOs have long advocated the establishment of a political offences commission.

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