Jarrett Tenebe, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has made a public threat against those who do not support the party's goal of securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential elections. During a prayer session on October 6, 2026, Mr. Tenebe prayed for "those who do not wish [Edo APC] well" in its pursuit of the governor's promise, saying that anyone who stands in their way will face "AK-47 fire." This threat is part of a recent pattern of behavior from leading members of the ruling party.
This is not an isolated incident, as other members of the APC have made similar threats against voters and opposition. Two months prior, APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, addressed party supporters in his constituency and described the yellow-colored cap worn by supporters of the Accord Party as "Yellow Fever cap, it is the cap of an animal." He proceeded to exhort them to take action against those wearing the cap, saying "if we see them, it is killing." The Nigeria Police Force reportedly invited Senator Fadahunsi to a meeting, but no further action was taken.
The Chairman-elect of the Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Danjuma Shekwolo, also made a threat against residents of the local government, saying "it's either you are for the APC, or you leave the area council." This threat is prohibited by Nigeria's constitution, which prohibits internal banishment. These incidents are part of a larger pattern of violence and intimidation by the ruling party and its supporters.
The National Peace Committee (NPC), led by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, had initiated a Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 presidential elections, which was signed by presidential candidates of all parties. The Accord aims to promote peaceful elections and shun violence, hate speech, and other conduct capable of undermining the electoral process. However, the committee's promise is lacking in both belief and benchmarks, and its silence on the rising violence and threats has been criticized.
The Peace Accord is devoid of any benchmarks of performance, monitoring, compliance, or fulfillment, making it a collective act of wishful thinking. The continuing silence of the NPC encourages a perception that their accord is a tool to protect a violent incumbency project. This is particularly concerning given the NPC's history of un-monitored Peace Accords over the past decade, which have not held up.
The law enforcement and security agencies have been criticized for their complicit silence in the face of rising violence and threats. Under section 132(b) of the Electoral Act, it is a felony for any person to inflict or threaten to inflict harm or loss on or against a person in order to induce or compel that person to vote or refrain from voting. A person convicted of this crime may be punished with imprisonment for up to three years.
The Editorial Board of the Punch has called attention to the dangers in the pattern of violent intimidation and threats from the ruling party, warning that such conduct is not politics but an assault on democracy, citizenship, and basic decency. The incident highlights the need for law enforcement and security agencies to take action against those making threats and engaging in violent behavior.
Key points
- Members of Nigeria's ruling APC party have made threats against voters and opposition.
- The National Peace Committee's Peace Accord has been criticized for lacking benchmarks and monitoring mechanisms.
- Law enforcement and security agencies have been accused of being complicit in the rising violence and threats.
