The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate Edo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, over an alleged threat to use AK-47 rifles against anyone seeking to stop the APC from delivering 2.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu. This demand was made by the party's Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) following reports of Tenebe's alleged threat.
The ADC's demand came as its chieftain, Kenneth Imansuangbon, dismissed Governor Monday Okpebholo's pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes as unrealistic. Imansuangbon insisted that growing public dissatisfaction would cost the APC victory in Edo State. He declared that the ADC's supporters would confront intimidation with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 elections.
Imansuangbon accused Okpebholo of misleading Tinubu about the ruling party's electoral strength in the state. He maintained that Okpebholo's 2.5 million vote pledge was not feasible and that the governor would be defeated because the people are with the ADC. The meeting where Imansuangbon made these statements featured the unveiling of the party's National and State Assembly candidates for Edo Central.
The ADC campaign council condemned the alleged threat by Tenebe, describing it as an act of terrorism and not politics. The council stated that this was the height of desperation by a party that has failed Nigerians woefully. They also condemned a reported attack on party members and destruction of supporters' vehicles at Gegu in Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The ADC campaign council argued that the APC could not legitimately secure 2.5 million votes in Edo through a free, fair, and credible electoral process. They described voters in the state as politically sophisticated and increasingly dissatisfied with hardship and insecurity under the present administration. The council appealed to the international community to monitor developments ahead of the elections and prevail on the Federal Government and APC to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
The council urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for the reported Kogi attack. They asked members of its state chapter to provide information that would assist investigations. The ADC also called on its members in Kogi State to name everyone they identified in the course of the needless attack.
Key points include the ADC's demand for a probe into Tenebe's alleged AK-47 threat, Imansuangbon's dismissal of Okpebholo's 2.5 million vote pledge, and the party's concerns about the APC's resort to violence and intimidation to retain power.
Key points
- The African Democratic Congress demands a probe of Edo State APC chairman Jarrett Tenebe over an alleged AK-47 threat.
- ADC chieftain Kenneth Imansuangbon dismissed Governor Monday Okpebholo's pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes as unrealistic.
- The ADC campaign council condemned the alleged threat by Tenebe as an act of terrorism and not politics.
