JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Daud Olatunji
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, has called for “AK-47 fire” against individuals accused of attempting to frustrate the party’s plan to deliver 2.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Tenebe made the controversial remark during one of the rallies held on Monday as Governor Okpebholo and other APC leaders visited the 18 local government areas of the state to mobilize support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement was contained in a viral video picked up by news outlets, in which the APC chairman spoke about the party’s goal of securing 2.5 million presidential votes from Edo.
According to Tenebe, the governor promised President Tinubu that Edo would provide the figure, but critics and opposition politicians subsequently questioned how the state would achieve this.
He said those who attempted to frustrate the plan would face what he described as “AK-47 fire.”
Tenebe said: “So whoever refuses, whoever wants to hinder us from getting the 2.5 million votes we want to give to Mr. President, fire AK-47. Thank you and God bless you.”
He also contrasted the expression with what he described as “fire of the Holy Spirit” and a “general purpose machine gun” prayer, presenting the remarks as a form of prayer against those who may hinder the electoral mobilization of the APC.
The APC Chairman also linked the number of votes given by states to the Federal Government with development opportunities, including the possibility of creating additional local government areas and states.
He said the administration will work to win votes because, according to him, President Tinubu has the constitutional and political influence needed for the creation of more local government areas.
“The only person who can create a local government for us is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If it is just that, we will not sleep. We will work hard and make sure those votes come through,” he said.
Tenebe also sought to justify the 2.5 million target by referring to the latest Edo local government elections.
He said Governor Okpebholo had earlier proven his critics wrong by mobilizing 2,156,800 votes for the APC during the exercise.
The claim, however, was made in the context of the party’s political mobilization and was not independently established in the material reviewed for this report.
The comments have since drawn criticism, with opponents and commentators describing the statements about “AK-47 fire” as threatening and potentially increasing political tension ahead of the 2027 election.
The Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress also condemned the remarks.
Party spokesperson Chris Ojeikere accused Tenebe of making comments that could encourage election violence and said the ADC would forward the video to the relevant authorities for appropriate action.
Ojeikere further said that the APC chairman’s earlier remarks had been followed by an attack on the state ADC secretariat and called for accountability if violence resulted from the latest comments.
This development has added to the growing political rhetoric surrounding the 2027 elections, as parties step up grassroots mobilization and seek to consolidate support ahead of the presidential election.
For the Edo APC, the immediate political objective remains mobilizing voters behind Tinubu and realizing the target of 2.5 million votes publicly announced by Governor Okpebholo and party leaders.
‘Want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need advertising for a product, service or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Please donate any amount HERE
