The controversy surrounding the Zuba campaign of APC chairmanship candidate, Hon. Usman Yahaya, has deepened following a strongly worded legal threat issued by the Usman Yahaya Support Organization (UYSO), demanding an immediate retraction and public apology from Facebook commentator Usman Abdullahi Babalado.
In a formal statement dated January 8, 2026, UYSO accused Babalado a former media aide to a past Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council of publishing a “malicious, false, and defamatory” Facebook post that likened Hon. Usman Yahaya, the current Gwagwalada Chairman Hon. Abubakar Jibril Giri, and FCT APC Chairman Hon. Abdulmalik to bandits operating in Zamfara State.
The viral post, which juxtaposed images from the Zuba campaign with photos of armed bandits in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, sparked intense public outrage and fear, particularly over voter safety ahead of the FCT Area Council elections. In the post, Babalawo questioned whether such scenes were what residents wanted for Gwagwalada and declared that “InshaAllah Usman Yahaya will never happen in Gwagwalada Area Council.”
Reacting, UYSO categorically denied any association between the named political figures and criminal elements, describing the publication as “false, malicious, misleading, and defamatory.” The group warned that the post amounted to criminal defamation and cyberstalking under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act and demanded a full retraction and unreserved public apology on Facebook within 24 hours, failing which legal action would be initiated.
However, while the response aggressively challenges the language and comparisons used in the Facebook post, it notably fails to address the central issue that triggered public concern in the first place: why supporters at a political campaign were allegedly seen carrying sticks and cutlasses, and chanting what witnesses described as war songs rather than conventional campaign slogans.
Residents and civil society observers argue that this unanswered question lies at the heart of the controversy. For many in Gwagwalada, the issue is not merely about reputational damage or social media posts, but about the growing militarisation of political campaigns and the implied threat such displays pose to peaceful civic participation.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no public explanation from the APC campaign or UYSO regarding the presence of weapons at the Zuba rally, nor any reassurance on measures taken to prevent violence during future campaign activities.
With legal threats now replacing public clarification, critics warn that attempts to silence commentary without addressing visible actions on the ground may further erode public trust. As the election approaches, the spotlight remains firmly on political actors in Gwagwalada not just on what is said online, but on what is done in the streets.