₦airaland Forum

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) was created to protect the rights of road transport workers, drivers, conductors, and others who form the backbone of Nigeria’s urban mobility. But in Lagos, the union has become something else entirely: a politically weaponized gang, more loyal to the ruling elite than the workers it claims to represent.

Recent events have confirmed what many Nigerians have long suspected. A viral video showed the Lagos NURTW Chairman, Adekunle Mustapha (a.k.a. Sego), openly threatening to kill anyone who votes against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. He didn't stutter. He wasn’t hiding. He said it with the confidence of someone who knows there will be no consequences.

This isn’t new. During the 2023 general elections, then- Lagos NURTW chairman MC Oluomo made similar threats, warning non-Yoruba voters to stay away from polling units. Again, there was video evidence. Again, nothing happened.

What makes this situation dangerous is not just the threats themselves, but the deafening silence of Nigeria’s security agencies. The police, DSS, and INEC have consistently looked the other way as these men acting under the guise of a union have repeatedly used intimidation and violence to influence electoral outcomes in Lagos. Their silence is not just troubling; it's complicit.

It raises a serious question: Can Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who claims to be a democrat, truly distance himself from the violent machinery that has helped secure his political dominance in Lagos?

For decades, the Lagos chapter of the NURTW has acted as a private militia silencing dissent, intimidating voters, and ensuring electoral victories through fear rather than free choice. These aren't isolated cases or rogue elements; this is a system, well-oiled and deeply entrenched.

And it is deeply undemocratic.
The continued use of thugs, agberos, hoodlums and union officials as political enforcers corrodes public trust in democracy and sets a dangerous precedent for future elections not just in Lagos, but nationwide.

The NURTW should be a vehicle for labour rights, not a weapon of electoral violence. If we remain silent, if security agencies continue to ignore these open threats, we risk normalizing a system where political power is won not at the ballot box, but with the machete and guns.

This is a warning to Nigerians: democracy cannot survive where violence is rewarded, where threats go unpunished, and where thuggery is treated as strategy. The Lagos NURTW has strayed far from its purpose and unless it is held accountable, it will remain a danger not just to transport workers, but to every Nigerian voter who still believes their voice should matter.

It's the military wing of the ApC, God will expose them

Its clearly the political wing of Bola Tinubu to derail and threaten our democracy.

The militia wing of APC. It's in every developing country not only in Nigeria.

Alhaji Tafa Sego message is directly to his members only.

Is there no NURTW in Anambra, Imo and Owerri?

Who control the one in those states?

Simple question requires simple answer. Don't quote me if you don't have straight answer to my questions

madridguy:
Alhaji Tafa Sego message is directly to his members only.

So let me get this straight, you're saying Alhaji Tafa Sego threatening to kîll his own members is okay because "the message was for his members only"?

Wow. So the Lagos NURTW chairman now has a license to kîll, maim, or terrorize anyone under his union if they don’t vote APC in 2027?

Sometimes, it’s honestly better to stay silent and be assumed a f… than to open your mouth and confirm it for the whole world.

Typing obident mentality.... No form of a proper engagement than throwing insults around.

Tafa Sego never threatened to unalive anyone. He said APC is their party as NURTW, it is APC that is giving us food, if you know you want to entertain other political party, leave NURTW... He said further, tell that Omo Barca that the rubbish he did then he should not repeat it.

Bobloco:
So let me get this straight, you're saying Alhaji Tafa Sego threatening to kîll his own members is okay because "the message was for his members only"?

Wow. So the Lagos NURTW chairman now has a license to kîll, maim, or terrorize anyone under his union if they don’t vote APC in 2027?

Sometimes, it’s honestly better to stay silent and be assumed a f… than to open your mouth and confirm it for the whole world.

madridguy:
Typing obident mentality.... No form of a proper engagement than throwing insults around.

Tafa Sego never threatened to unalive anyone. He said APC is their party as NURTW, it is APC that is giving us food, if you know you want to entertain other political party, leave NURTW... He said further, tell that Omo Barca that the rubbish he did then he should not repeat it.

And under which constitution does he have the right to force his members to vote for a particular party?

Anyhow you want to look at it, he is wrong, so you are trying to tell us that as a member of NURTW, they don't freedom to vote any candidate of their choice ?

Listen to yourself, the way you guys throw logic and commonsense away to defend nonsense because of tribal and religious affiliation.

madridguy:
Typing obident mentality.... No form of a proper engagement than throwing insults around.

Tafa Sego never threatened to unalive anyone. He said APC is their party as NURTW, it is APC that is giving us food, if you know you want to entertain other political party, leave NURTW... He said further, tell that Omo Barca that the rubbish he did then he should not repeat it.

You’re really struggling to defend this probably because you're one of the agberos he's talking about.

First, you claimed he was talking to members. I asked you whether that gives him the right to terrorize them, and now you're trying to twist what was said like it's some motivational speech. You’re literally out here justifying threats because according to you “APC is giving them food”? That’s your defense?

And what exactly did Omo Barca do that warranted a thinly veiled threat? You’re here doing mental gymnastics to excuse a so called union leader using his position to intimidate people for political loyalty in broad daylight.

If you can’t see the problem with that, then maybe you’re not just defending thuggery you’re living it.

Sometimes, truly, silence would do you more good than exposing your lack of se.nse

All of the above. How many years left self for the new election? Just imagine what the opposition are using their time to do.

Anyone that shout rigging in 2027 should be sentenced to at least 6 months imprisonment

Bobloco:
So let me get this straight, you're saying Alhaji Tafa Sego threatening to kîll his own members is okay because "the message was for his members only"?

Wow. So the Lagos NURTW chairman now has a license to kîll, maim, or terrorize anyone under his union if they don’t vote APC in 2027?

Sometimes, it’s honestly better to stay silent and be assumed a f… than to open your mouth and confirm it for the whole world.

where did he mention kill in d video?

Bobloco:
You’re really struggling to defend this probably because you're one of the agberos he's talking about.

First, you claimed he was talking to members. I asked you whether that gives him the right to terrorize them, and now you're trying to twist what was said like it's some motivational speech. You’re literally out here justifying threats because according to you “APC is giving them food”? That’s your defense?

And what exactly did Omo Barca do that warranted a thinly veiled threat? You’re here doing mental gymnastics to excuse a so called union leader using his position to intimidate people for political loyalty in broad daylight.

If you can’t see the problem with that, then maybe you’re not just defending thuggery you’re living it.

Sometimes, truly, silence would do you more good than exposing your lack of se.nse

with your submission on this thread, before anyone engage u further.

It's highly necessary we ask if u understand Yoruba language cos it's obvious u don't know or hear what Sego said about Omo Barca in d video.


Oga it's obvious u don't understand Yoruba, before u come out to come n argue y don't u look for someone to interpret it to u?

It is only people from your side that are known to argue blindly n aggressively.

U don't know something n when those who know try to explain u will still keep arguing ignorantly