Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, has come under fire over comments in which he invoked “AK-47” against opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In a viral video circulating on social media, Tenebe was seen speaking at one of the ongoing local government campaigns led by Governor Monday Okpebholo and the party leadership. He threatened to deal with anyone who opposes the party’s plan to deliver 2.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
According to Tenebe, the number of votes a state delivers to the Federal Government can influence its development, including the creation of more local government areas and states. He claimed Governor Okpebholo had promised President Tinubu 2.5 million votes from Edo, a pledge which opposition figures and social media critics had dismissed as unrealistic. He said the governor had previously proved critics wrong by mobilising over 2.1 million votes for the APC during the last local government elections in the state.
Tenebe emphasized that delivering the votes is crucial to securing more development opportunities for Edo State. “The only person that can create a local government for us is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If it is that alone, we will not sleep. We will work hard and make sure those votes are turned out,” he said. In the video, the APC chairman then offered what he called a “reversal prayer” against those who would constitute an obstacle to achieving the target.
In his prayer, Tenebe compared the potency of different types of prayers, stating that while “Holy Ghost Fire” is heavier, “General Purpose Machine Gun prayer” is lighter. He then prayed for “AK-47 fire” against anybody who refuses and wants to stand in their way, saying it is necessary for them to have those votes that they intend to give to Mr President.
However, critics have described Tenebe’s “AK-47 fire” prayer as threats, voter intimidation, and potential incitement to electoral violence ahead of the 2027 elections. The Edo chapter of African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused Tenebe of inciting election violence ahead of the election with his prayer. Edo ADC spokesperson, Chris Ojeikere, said this in a statement while alleging that similar remarks by Tenebe led to an attack on the party’s secretariat.
Ojeikere added that the party would forward the video to appropriate authorities for action and that Tenebe should be held responsible for any resulting violence in the state. Commentators on social media also called on the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to take action against Tenebe over the unusual prayer.
Tenebe's comments have sparked a heated debate about the tone and language used by politicians in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. The incident highlights the need for caution and responsible communication from political leaders to prevent unnecessary tensions and promote a peaceful electoral process.
Key points
- Edo APC chairman Jarret Tenebe faces criticism for suggesting 'AK-47 fire' against opposition parties.
- Tenebe's comments were in reference to the party's goal of delivering 2.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
- Critics have described Tenebe's prayer as threats, voter intimidation, and potential incitement to electoral violence.
