Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has strongly condemned the rising cases of kidnappings and killings in Nigeria, linking the violence to the 2027 Presidential elections.
In a fiery statement, Igbokwe described the ongoing bloodshed in parts of Northern Nigeria and the South East as “counterproductive” and “the worst form of madness,” stressing that political ambitions cannot be achieved through violence.
“You cannot win elections by killing people who will vote for you. It is counterproductive and, at best, an exercise in futility,” Igbokwe said. “In your wildest imagination, do you think you can win elections by killing and kidnapping people? You people will kiss the dust.”
He accused political actors in the North and South East of using their citizens as “guinea pigs” for personal or political gain, while praising the South West and South South for making “steady progress.”
“Northern Nigeria and South East Nigeria have become the problem of Nigeria. They kill their own people and jubilate about it,” Igbokwe added, lamenting the loss of lives to criminal activities in the name of politics.
The APC chieftain’s comments come amid growing concerns over insecurity in the country, particularly in regions plagued by kidnappings, banditry, and politically motivated violence. Igbokwe warned that such tactics would ultimately fail, describing the perpetrators as “despicable rogues and plunderers” whose actions are dragging the nation toward ruin.
