ADC Tells APC to Rein in Edo Chairman Over Vote Threat
The Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to restrain its state chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, over statements the ADC describes as a threat of election-related violence before the 2027 general elections.
Tenebe made the remarks during an interview on Television Continental (TVC). He said he was willing to make extreme personal sacrifices to ensure the Edo APC delivers the 2.5 million votes it has promised to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
"No matter what it takes, even if my hand will be an impediment in getting the 2.5 million votes we promised the President, I will cut off the hands. Even if it is my head, I will cut it off," Tenebe said.
He added that the party's commitment in Edo was to deliver 2.5 million votes to the President, and that anyone who tried to obstruct that goal would be dealt with.
"In Edo State, we only promise to give 2.5 million votes to Mr President and anybody that would try to come our way would make that person the way. Anything humanly possible, we are ready to do it to get these votes for Mr President," he said.
According to Tenebe, the party's immediate focus is strengthening its structures across all 18 local government areas of the state. He said the question was no longer whether President Tinubu would win, but by what margin.
"It is no longer whether the President would win. The President will win. But the number that he is going to use to win is what matters," he stated.
He also said APC state chairmen were already comparing notes on which state would post the highest vote tally.
On the possibility of political coalitions in Edo, Tenebe said no general meeting had been held at which the party either rejected or endorsed any coalition. He noted that states determined to deliver for the President would do whatever was needed to reach the required figures.
The Edo ADC spokesperson, Chris Ojeikere, responded by accusing Tenebe of inciting violence. He alleged that similar comments had come before an attack on the ADC secretariat in the state.
"Jarret is speaking and talking as is very typical of him. He is a known purveyor of violence, election and political brigandage. He made a similar statement shortly before they burnt down our secretariat in Edo," Ojeikere said.
"He said he didn't recognise any ADC and that anybody who called himself ADC would be smoked out. And within two weeks, our secretariat was in smoke," he alleged.
Ojeikere urged Nigerians and security agencies to scrutinise the APC chairman's language closely.
"I want Nigerians to take particular note of the language used by Tenebe. If they consider that this is a man who went AWOL from the army, they should not take these words as exaggeration," he said.
"They are expressions of a man whom the Nigerian government trained to serve this country and taught how to use the gun," he added.
Ojeikere called on the APC and the Federal Government to take note of the statement, and warned that the party would send the video to security agencies.
"We are calling on APC as a government and as a party, calling on Nigerians to take note of Jarret's statement, and Nigerians must hold him responsible for any election violence in Benin City and other parts of Edo State," he said.
"We are going to incident that video with security agencies that he is threatening fire and brimstone," he stated.
He also cited reports of violence in Osun State, saying such threats should not be treated lightly.
"Recall that in Osun State, when we heard of a similar threat, we were told that about 40 persons had been killed in Osun State. So, this is not to be taken lightly," he added.
Ojeikere, however, expressed confidence that voters would decide the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
"We want Jarret to know that there are weapons that are stronger than war, and that is the people's will. Nigerians' desire to sustain this democracy is stronger than any weapon they want to use. Nigerians will come out and vote Atiku Abubakar come 2027," he said.
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