The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, ADC PCC, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of planning to use intimidation and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections. This allegation was made in response to a reported threat by Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, to deploy AK-47 rifles against anyone who attempts to prevent the party from securing 2.5 million votes in the 2027 presidential election.
The ADC PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Tenebe's alleged statement as "inciting" and "terroristic". The council also condemned the reported attack on its members and the destruction of vehicles belonging to party supporters at Gegu in Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Ologbondiyan stated that the alleged threat amounted to an attempt to intimidate voters and create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the 2027 elections. He expressed shock that a state chairman of a ruling party could threaten Nigerians with AK-47 rifles if they refuse to vote for his party.
The ADC PCC said it had expected the APC leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to condemn the alleged statement or demand its retraction, but claimed that no such action had been taken. Ologbondiyan further alleged that following President Tinubu's reported remark that "all is fair in politics," some APC members had increasingly resorted to intimidation, harassment, and violations of the law.
The council argued that the APC could not legitimately secure 2.5 million votes in Edo State through a free, fair, and credible electoral process, as voters in the state were politically sophisticated and dissatisfied with the hardship and insecurity under the APC-led administration.
The ADC PCC director said the alleged threat to use AK-47 rifles against voters constituted a violation of the Electoral Act and the Constitution and should be investigated by relevant authorities. The council urged 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 council also called on the international community, including the United Nations, European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, and the United States, to monitor political developments ahead of the 2027 elections. Ologbondiyan said the 2027 election would be "a referendum" on the performance of the APC-led administration, insisting that intimidation and threats would not stop Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
Key points
- ADC PCC accuses APC of planning to use intimidation and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- APC's alleged threat to use AK-47 rifles against voters constitutes a violation of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
- The 2027 election will be a referendum on the performance of the APC-led administration.
