Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused some politicians of encouraging citizens and thugs to carry weapons under the guise of protecting their votes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement published on X on Tuesday, Keyamo described the politicians as “unscrupulous”, alleging that they had sent their children abroad to safety while encouraging others to engage in electoral violence.

The minister referenced a warning issued by former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 general elections, which he said he had supported and still stood by.

“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’. That’s fine,” Keyamo said.

“Let me reiterate what late President Buhari said pre-2019 election (which I supported and I still support): when you resort to self-help and you take up dangerous weapons in the guise of ‘protecting your votes’ and you attack anybody, it is lawful and legitimate for law enforcement agents to ‘neutralise’ you or simple ‘put you down’ in the course of their duty.

“And the children of the politicians will be watching your foolishness from their safe haven somewhere in the world.”

During an emergency meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on February 18, 2019, Buhari warned that anyone attempting to snatch ballot boxes during that year’s presidential election would do so “at the expense of his own life”.

The former president also said he had directed the military and police to be ruthless, remarks that sparked controversy over the use of force against ballot box snatchers.