The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC PCC) has called for an investigation into an alleged threat by the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, involving the use of AK-47 rifles against those who oppose the party’s 2027 electoral plans.
The ADC PCC said the alleged remark, together with a reported attack on its members and the destruction of vehicles belonging to supporters in Gegu, Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State, raised serious concerns about possible intimidation and political violence ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the statement attributed to Tenebe.
Ologbondiyan said the campaign council had expected the APC leadership and President Bola Tinubu to publicly condemn the alleged remark or demand its retraction but claimed that no such response had been made.
“We are shocked that a state chairman of a ruling party, Mr. Jarrett Tenebe, can stand before the public and threaten Nigerians with AK-47 rifles if they refuse to vote for his party, the APC,” he said.
The ADC PCC urged the Inspector-General of Police, DSS Director-General and INEC to invite Tenebe for questioning, arguing that an alleged threat involving firearms could amount to a violation of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
ADC Questions APC’s 2.5m Vote Target
The controversy centres on the APC’s reported target of securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu from Edo State in the 2027 presidential election.
Ologbondiyan questioned whether such a target could be achieved through a free, fair and credible electoral process.
He linked the alleged threat to what he described as increasing political desperation within the ruling party, citing hardship, insecurity and dissatisfaction among some Edo voters.
According to him, the alleged remarks have heightened concerns that political actors could resort to intimidation or violence in an attempt to influence the 2027 election.
The ADC PCC maintained that Nigerians should be allowed to freely decide which candidates to support without threats or coercion.
International Community Urged to Monitor 2027 Polls
The campaign council also appealed to international organisations and foreign governments to pay close attention to developments ahead of the 2027 elections.
It specifically called on the United Nations, European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, the United States and other democratic countries to monitor the electoral environment and encourage the Federal Government and political parties to ensure a peaceful and credible process.
Ologbondiyan described the 2027 election as “a referendum” on the performance of the APC-led administration.
He insisted that threats or intimidation should not prevent Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
ADC Demands Investigation Into Kogi Attack
The ADC PCC also called for an investigation into the reported attack on its members in Gegu, Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to the council, some ADC supporters were attacked and vehicles belonging to members of the party were destroyed during the incident.
Ologbondiyan urged members of the party’s Kogi State chapter, particularly those in Koton Karfi, to provide security agencies with information that could help identify those responsible.
“We call on the members of our Kogi State chapter, particularly in Koton Karfi Local Government, to name everyone they identified in the course of the needless attack,” he said.
He called on the security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute anyone found responsible.
The ADC PCC said both incidents should be treated seriously as the country moves closer to the 2027 general election, stressing the need for political competition to remain peaceful and within the law.
