All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka has reported that he and his family have received more than 200 death threats from alleged followers of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
According to Vanguard news, Morka alleged that the threats were triggered by Obi’s accusation that his comment about Obi’s New Year message constituted a death threat.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Morka stated that he has documented 400 threats, about 200 of which are explicit death threats. He described the threats as “written threats that I will be submitting to law enforcement agencies” and claimed that individuals have detailed how they plan to harm him, including threats to shoot him, behead him, and carry out other gruesome acts.
Morka denied making any insinuation that could be interpreted as a threat to Obi’s life, saying his comment was a direct response to the question about Obi being labeled a voodoo economist and prophet of doom. He asked Obi to produce evidence of the alleged threats against his life and his family.
The APC spokesperson’s allegations have sparked mixed reactions, with some criticizing him for allegedly exaggerating the threats and others condemning the threats as unacceptable. The incident has highlighted the increasingly tense political climate in Nigeria, with concerns about the safety and security of politicians and their families.
Morka’s allegations have also raised questions about the role of social media in perpetuating hate speech and violence. Many have called for greater accountability from social media platforms in monitoring and removing threatening content.
The APC has condemned the threats against Morka, describing them as “unacceptable and barbaric.” The party has called on law enforcement agencies to investigate the threats and bring those responsible to justice.
In a statement, the APC said, “We condemn in the strongest terms the threats against our National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka. These threats are unacceptable and barbaric, and we call on law enforcement agencies to investigate and bring those responsible to justice.”
The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the need for greater civility and respect in Nigerian politics. Many have called for politicians to tone down their rhetoric and avoid inflammatory language that could incite violence.