A wave of condemnation has hit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following inflammatory statements by key government officials who threatened physical assault and forced eviction against citizens who refuse to support the party in the 2027 general elections.

The latest controversy involves the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, who was captured in a viral video threatening to physically flog individuals who oppose the ruling party.

Speaking at a campaign inauguration organized by the Tinubu City Boy Movement—a political support group advocating for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election—Buba stated that while the party is currently using persuasion, it would not hesitate to deploy force.

“In politics, sometimes things go smoothly, sometimes it goes with persuasion, and sometimes it goes with force," Buba said in the trending clip. "Right now, we are being persuasive, but we’ve noticed they are throwing jabs at us on TikTok. As for those who refuse to follow us, they will be flogged."

He added, "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."

Buba`s comments follow a similar controversial declaration by the Chairman of the Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Samuel Shekwolo.

In a separate video circulating on social media, Shekwolo warned residents who do not intend to vote for the APC to pack their bags and leave the council area before the 2027 polls.

Shekwolo justified his stance by pointing to the infrastructure projects executed by President Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in Kuje, arguing that residents cannot benefit from government interventions and vote for the opposition.

These incidents mirror an earlier dispute in Osun State, where the lawmaker representing Osun East, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, faced intense public backlash over hostile remarks aimed at Accord Party members.

Although Governor Ademola Adeleke called for the lawmaker`s arrest and the Osun State Police Command subsequently interrogated him, Fadahunsi later claimed his statements were misconstrued and that he only meant defeating the opposition at the ballot box.

The escalating rhetoric has triggered sharp reactions from civil society organizations (CSOs) and political analysts, who warn that undemocratic remarks by public officers could incite electoral violence and voter intimidation.

Legal experts note that threatening voters violates the provisions of the Electoral Act and undermines the constitutional guarantee of free association. With the 2027 election cycle drawing closer, stakeholders are calling on party leadership and security agencies to penalize state actors using inflammatory language to suppress democratic choices.