A high-ranking Borno State government official has sparked widespread controversy after issuing coercive threats toward citizens who choose not to align with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, made the inflammatory remarks during a viral address delivered at a campaign inauguration organized by the Tinubu City Boy Movement—a political support group advocating for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Addressing the gathering, the commissioner declared that while the party initially favors peaceful engagement and political persuasion, it will not hesitate to deploy brute force against political opponents or critics.

Directly confronting opposition voices on social media platforms like TikTok, Buba asserted that the ruling party is fully prepared to physically retaliate against anyone campaigning or speaking out against the APC. He explicitly warned that political detractors who gesture or point fingers at the ruling administration with malicious intent will have their fingers broken.

The commissioner framed the current political structure in terms of direct patronage, promising that individuals who align with the APC will enjoy exclusive political benefits and “honey” under the current government. Conversely, he stated that those who refuse to support or follow the ruling party will face severe physical disciplinary measures, including being flogged.

The official’s aggressive rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism across social media, with many commentators condemning the blatant intimidation tactics, the normalization of political violence, and the open suppression of democratic opposition in a region already navigating complex security challenges.