The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has cautioned Nigerians against resorting to violence under the pretext of protecting their votes during the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo warned that individuals who carry dangerous weapons or attack others in the name of safeguarding their votes risk being lawfully neutralised by security operatives.
The minister made the remarks in a post on his X account on Tuesday, recalling a similar warning issued by former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 general elections, which he said he supported.
He accused some politicians of encouraging citizens and suspected thugs to engage in electoral violence while sending their own children abroad to avoid the dangers associated with such actions.
“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’,” he said.
Citing Buhari’s pre-election warning, Keyamo maintained that security operatives were justified in neutralising individuals who took the law into their hands, wielded dangerous weapons and attacked others under the guise of protecting their votes.
He urged those considering such actions to be mindful of the consequences of confronting law enforcement agents.
The minister further alleged that politicians promoting electoral violence would have their children watching the events unfold from safe locations outside the country.
“Having been forewarned, you can then go ahead and exercise your options. CHIKENA!!” he added.
