Electoral season in Nigeria is not only tense because of citizens’ intention to vote for the right leader or remove a poor-performing leader, but also because of statements made by some political leaders.
Elections in Nigeria have seen some notable persons make utterances that are security-threatening during campaigns.
The likes of Nasir El-Rufai, Odion Olaye, and several others, at one point or another, have been condemned by Nigerians following their statements.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of instances where Nigerian politicians have issued security or life-threatening statements during campaigns, including notable examples:
1. Nasir El-Rufai (2019)
During the 2019 general elections, Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, made a controversial statement that stirred significant backlash.
He said, “Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags. We are waiting for the person that will come and intervene. They will go back in body bags, because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country. We got that independence and we are trying to run our country as decently as possible and we know the history of those countries that are trying to teach us these things. We have read their history.”
El-Rufai’s statement was directed at those he believed were planning to disrupt the elections.
His remarks were widely condemned for inciting violence and escalating tensions in an already volatile political environment.
2. Odion Olaye (2024)
In a statement that garnered considerable attention ahead of the September 21 gubernatorial election in Edo State, Odion Olaye, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State, said, “I want to assure you that PDP, our party, is going to win Egor 80 percent come 21st of this month and on 22nd of this month, they must declare Asue Ighodalo the winner.
“If they refuse to do that, Edo state will burn.”
Olaye made this inflammatory remark while campaigning for Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.
The statement was seen as a threat of violence if the election results did not go as hoped by the PDP.
3. Fani-Kayode (2023)
During the 2023 presidential campaigns, Femi Fani-Kayode, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), made a provocative comment, he said,
A WORD TO THE DOGS OF OPPOSITION
As a consequence of the events of the last few days I am constrained to say that, like a rabid and mad dog that is foaming at the mouth, the Nigerian opposition, represented by the followers of Atiku Abubakar (Atikulators) and the followers of… pic.twitter.com/VyyLSKXRRC
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) March 25, 2023
Fani-Kayode’s remarks were directed at opposition groups and were intended to deter them from any form of election disruption, but they were criticized for potentially inciting violence.
4. Godwin Obaseki
Governor Godwin Obaseki has threatened that there will be breach of peace across Nigeria should there be a repeat of the recent attack in Benin City, that led to the death of a police officer, Inspector Akor Onuh.
However, in a 41-second video that surfaced online on Sunday, Governor Obaseki was seen speaking at a gathering of PDP faithfuls, assuring them of his unflinching support in the wake of the attack.
“We just kept quiet last Thursday; and if they try what they tried last Thursday again, Nigeria will burn… and I mean it;
“You don’t behave like that. We’ve passed that stage. We’re not animals… The first time we kept quiet, and I told all of you that you are the ones that have something to lose does not mean they should take us for granted… .Those people who did it, they refuse to arrest them, rather they want to come and arrest our boys. Let them try”, Obaseki spoke in the short video.
5. Olu Martins
The deputy director-general (Media) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship campaign organisation in Edo State, Olu Martins, in a viral video threatened to deal with political opponents of the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
The state police command reportedly arraigned the PDP spokesman at the state criminal court for the inflammatory statements and was granted bail.
Martins threatened in the viral video released on Friday, June 7, 2024, “If some people leave the party, it will also create space for others. The ones we can beg to stay, we will beg to stay. The ones that did not stay, when we meet, we will beat them. I am sorry, I am a pastor.
“I asked them how Olumide Akpata campaign billboard got to be hoisted at Ring Road. Can you put the banner of another party in Alausa where Tinubu is?
“There are some things I cannot say here. When I spoke to Olukoga, he looked at me and I said from the days of John the Baptist till now, the kingdom suffers violence and the violence take it by force. Who no know go know, who knows too much time, their father.”
