The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for an investigation into a remark by Edo State's All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Jarrett Tenebe. In a viral video, Tenebe threatened "AK-47 fire" against anyone who stood in the way of the party's plan to secure 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. The ADC Presidential Campaign Council described the statement as "inciting" and "terroristic".
The ADC PCC, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused Tenebe of attempting to intimidate voters ahead of the 2027 elections. Ologbondiyan said the remark had heightened concerns over the conduct of the 2027 election campaign. He urged the Inspector-General of Police, the DSS Director-General, and INEC to invite Tenebe for questioning and determine whether his remarks constituted a threat, incitement, or any other violation of Nigerian law.
The Edo State chapter of the ADC also reacted to Tenebe's statement, saying it would rely on Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 elections. Edo ADC chairman, Tony Alile, said no amount of threats would discourage voters from exercising their constitutional rights. Alile urged residents of Edo State to use their PVCs to express their dissatisfaction with the APC administration.
Alile, who received defectors into the ADC, said the party's weapon was 200 times bigger and smarter than the AK-47 mentioned by Tenebe, referring to the PVC. He urged party leaders at the ward and unit levels to intensify mobilisation, stressing that victory in 2027 would require collective commitment and an all-hands-on-deck approach.
A former governorship aspirant and party stalwart, Kenneth Imasuaghon, expressed confidence that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would emerge as Nigeria's next president. Imasuaghon described the turnout at an enlarged senatorial meeting as evidence of growing public dissatisfaction with the APC. He predicted defeat for Governor Monday Okpebholo and dismissed the APC's projected 2.5 million votes for Tinubu as a political smokescreen.
The ADC PCC also raised concern over the reported attack on its members in Gegu, Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State. It alleged that party supporters were attacked and vehicles belonging to ADC members were damaged during the incident. The council appealed to 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.
The ADC urged the Federal Government and political parties to ensure that the electoral process remained peaceful, credible, and free from intimidation. Ologbondiyan said the 2027 election should be decided through the ballot rather than intimidation, adding that political threats should not prevent Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
Key points
- ADC demands investigation into Edo APC chair's "AK-47 fire" remark
- Edo ADC to challenge APC in 2027 elections using PVCs
- ADC confident in Atiku Abubakar's emergence as next president
