Minister accuses politicians of arming thugs to cause violence in 2027

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo

Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has alleged that some Nigerian politicians were encouraging “hapless citizens and thugs to take up weapons to kill one another” under the pretext of ‘protecting their votes’ in the 2027 general election.

Mr Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, remarked in a post on his X handle on Tuesday.

The minister said the “unscrupulous politicians” were encouraging the youths and thugs after ferrying their own children outside Nigeria.

“Let me reiterate what late President (Muhammadu) Buhari said pre-2019 election, which I supported, and I still support: when you resort to self-help, and you take up dangerous weapons in the guise of ‘protecting your votes’ and you attack anybody, it is lawful and legitimate for law enforcement agents to ‘neutralise’ you or simply ‘put you down’ in the course of their duty,” he said.

Mr Keyamo stressed that the children of the politicians would ultimately watch the hired thugs’ foolishness.

“Having been forewarned, you can then go ahead and exercise your options,” he said.

Although Mr Keyamo did not mention names, the minister’s remarks were coming amid tension ahead of the 2027 general election.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that some politicians and their political parties have been threatening that those who rig the forthcoming election would be killed.

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, was among the politicians who warned against electoral malpractice ahead of the general elections.

Mr Omo-Agege, who is seeking election to the Delta Central District seat under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, threatened violence against anyone caught rigging the polls.

“I want to make the news again. Anybody who rigs the election on that day, we will kill him! If you don’t value your life, come and rig the election,” he said at a political event in his constituency in late October.

He continued: “They’re rigging your future. They’re rigging the future of your children. We’re waiting for them. Let them try it. It is rig and die.”