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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against picking up weapons under the pretext of defending their votes during the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo’s admonition comes as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled to hold the Presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027, followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027.
The minister referenced previous remarks made by former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 general elections, when Buhari issued a firm warning against ballot-box snatching and election-related violence.
In a statement published on his official X handle on Tuesday, Keyamo alleged that certain political figures were inciting vulnerable citizens and thugs to unleash violence while ensuring their own family members remained safely abroad.
“After safely ferrying their children abroad, some unscrupulous politicians are encouraging hapless citizens and thugs to take up weapons to kill one another under the pretext of ‘protecting their votes’,” Keyamo stated.
“That’s fine. Let me reiterate what late President 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.”
“And the children of the politicians will be watching your foolishness from their safe haven somewhere in the world. Having been forewarned, you can then go ahead and exercise your options. CHIKENA,” the minister’s statement added.
During an emergency All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting in February 2019, Buhari had announced that security agencies were mandated to deal ruthlessly with anyone attempting to snatch ballot boxes or disrupt voting, warning that such interference could prove to be the perpetrator’s “last unlawful action.”
The 2019 declaration sparked widespread public debate, with opposition leaders and legal commentators condemning the rhetoric as an overreach against citizens, while the Presidency maintained it served as a necessary deterrent against election sabotage.
Reaffirming his endorsement of that stance, Keyamo cautioned individuals contemplating election-day violence that security personnel remain legally empowered to counter attacks carried out under the guise of protecting ballot choices.
The minister’s warning coincides with INEC entering its final phase of preparations for the upcoming 2027 polls.
The electoral body has consistently urged political parties and candidates to adhere strictly to the legal framework, with INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, recently highlighting the imperative for political actors to refrain from voter intimidation and electoral violence.
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