Severe backlash and human rights concerns have erupted after the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, openly threatened that individuals who refuse to support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections will be physically flogged.
​The controversial statements surfaced on Monday, August 31, 2026, following the release of a video recorded during a political campaign event organized by the Tinubu City Boy Movement, a prominent support group advocating President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
​Addressing the crowd during the movement’s campaign inauguration, Commissioner Buba declared that while the ruling party is currently employing peaceful persuasion, it will not hesitate to resort to force against political opponents, particularly critics targeting the administration on social media platforms like TikTok.
​”In politics, sometimes things go smoothly, sometimes it goes with persuasion, and sometimes it goes with force,” Buba said in the viral video. “Right now, we are being persuasive, but we’ve noticed they are throwing jabs at us on TikTok… If they point fingers at us, we will point fingers at them; if they point fingers at us with malicious intent, then we will hold that finger and break it.”
​He further emphasized a coercive divide between party loyalists and opposition voters. “This government is our government; follow us and enjoy honey. As for those who refuse to follow us, they will be flogged,” he added.
​The remarks immediately sparked condemnation across civil society groups, opposition figures, and human rights bodies.
Reacting to the viral footage, Amnesty International Nigeria issued a public statement condemning the commissioner’s remarks as unlawful, reckless, and a flagrant violation of citizens’ constitutionally protected freedom of choice.
​”His outrageous outburst that ‘those who refuse to obey us will be flogged’ is unlawful,” an Amnesty International spokesperson stated, urging Nigerian security authorities to launch an immediate investigation to curb impunity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The rights watchdog warned that inflammatory rhetoric by government officials risks creating a toxic climate of political fear and voter intimidation.
​The controversy in Borno is the latest in a series of heated exchanges involving politicians using coercive language ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
The statement came shortly after similar public outrage targeted the Chairman of the Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Shekwolo, who told non-APC supporters to leave the council area ahead of 2027.
​Neither Sainna Buba nor the Borno State Government has issued an official clarification or apology regarding the speech.
