Borno State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, has apologised to Nigerians following the backlash over his controversial comments about people who refuse to support the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.

Buba, who addressed journalists in Maiduguri on Wednesday, formally withdrew the remarks and said they were not intended to infringe on the rights of citizens to freely choose their political affiliations.

The commissioner had sparked controversy after a video from an empowerment programme organised by the City Boy Movement in Maiduguri went viral.

In the video, Buba warned that people who refused to support the APC would be “flogged”, while also threatening to break the fingers of those who pointed fingers at the government or its supporters.

He said supporters of the government would “enjoy the honey”, while those who refused to follow the government would face consequences.

The comments generated criticism, with concerns raised over the language used by a public official at a time political activities are already intensifying ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, Buba has now expressed regret over the controversy, saying his words were not meant to be interpreted literally or as a threat to citizens.

He explained that the statement was made during an APC-related empowerment gathering and was not intended to deny anyone the constitutional right to freedom of choice and association.

According to him, he had initially clarified the meaning of the statement, but decided to formally retract it because of the concerns it continued to generate.

“I am using this medium to retract my earlier statement formally and to apologise to the entire people of Borno State and beyond for any offence it may have caused,” Buba said.

The commissioner also distanced the controversial remark from the APC and the administration of Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum.

Buba said neither the party nor the state government intended to undermine the rights of citizens, stressing that the administration respected different segments of society.

The apology marks a reversal from his earlier position when he described the controversial comments as figurative and maintained that they were directed at APC members involved in what he called anti-party activities.

His latest statement comes as political parties and support groups intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, with recent comments by other political figures also drawing criticism over alleged attempts to intimidate opposition supporters.