Aviation Minister Calls Out Politicians for Encouraging Violence in 2027 Elections

Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has claimed that some Nigerian politicians are pushing “hapless citizens and thugs to take up weapons to kill one another” while pretending to ‘protect their votes’ in the 2027 general election.

Mr Keyamo, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made this statement in a post on his X handle on Tuesday.

The minister accused these “unscrupulous politicians” of encouraging young people and thugs while sending their own children abroad.

“Let me repeat what late President (Muhammadu) Buhari said before the 2019 election, which I supported, and I still support: when you take matters into your own hands, and you pick up dangerous weapons under the guise of ‘protecting your votes’ and attack anyone, it is lawful for law enforcement agents to ‘neutralise’ you or simply ‘put you down’ while doing their job,” he said.

Mr Keyamo emphasized that the children of these politicians would only watch the foolishness of the hired thugs.

“Having been warned, you can then go ahead and make your choices,” he added.

Tension Grows for 2027 Elections

Though Mr Keyamo did not name anyone specifically, his comments come at a time of rising tension as the 2027 general election approaches.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that some politicians and their parties have been threatening violence against those who they claim will rig the upcoming election.