The Presidential Campaign Council of the African Democratic Congress (ADC PCC) has raised concerns over an alleged threat made by the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe. According to the ADC PCC, Tenebe allegedly threatened to deploy AK-47 rifles against anyone who attempts to frustrate the party's bid to secure 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The ADC PCC described the alleged statement as "inciting" and "terroristic," warning that such rhetoric could heighten political tension and undermine the peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections. The campaign council also condemned the reported attack on ADC members and the destruction of vehicles belonging to party supporters at Gegu in Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
In a statement on Sunday, the council's Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the two incidents were indications of an emerging pattern of intimidation and political violence ahead of the 2027 polls. Ologbondiyan expressed surprise that a state chairman of the ruling party could allegedly threaten voters with firearms over their electoral choices.
Ologbondiyan further alleged that comments attributed to President Tinubu that "all is fair in politics" had emboldened some APC members to engage in intimidation, harassment, and alleged violations of the law. He questioned the possibility of the APC securing 2.5 million votes in Edo State through a free and credible electoral process, arguing that the state's electorate was politically sophisticated and increasingly dissatisfied with worsening hardship and insecurity.
The ADC PCC spokesman urged security and electoral authorities to investigate the alleged threat as a matter of national importance. The council consequently called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to invite Tenebe for questioning over the alleged threat.
The ADC PCC also urged the international community, including the United Nations, European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, and the United States, to closely monitor political developments ahead of the 2027 elections and prevail on all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process. According to Ologbondiyan, the 2027 election would serve as "a referendum" on the performance of the APC-led administration.
On the reported attack in Kogi State, the ADC PCC urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for the alleged assault on its members and destruction of their vehicles. The council called on its Kogi State chapter members to name everyone they identified in the course of the needless attack, charging security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
Key points
- ADC PCC raises alarm over alleged threat by Edo APC Chairman to deploy AK-47 rifles against those frustrating APC's bid to secure 2.5 million votes in 2027 election
- The alleged threat was described as "inciting" and "terroristic" by the ADC PCC
- The council urged security agencies to investigate the alleged threat and international community to monitor political developments ahead of the 2027 elections
