The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jarret Tenebe, has threatened to use what he described as the “power of AK 47” against anyone who attempts to stop the party from delivering 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Tenebe made the statement during one of the campaign rallies organised as Governor Monday Okpebholo toured all 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State to build support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
A viral video from one of the rallies showed the APC chairman warning individuals who may oppose the party’s target of securing 2.5 million votes for the president.
Tenebe said the number of votes delivered by a state to the Federal Government could affect the state’s prospects for development, including possible consideration for the creation of additional local government areas and states.
While addressing supporters, he compared different forms of spiritual intervention before making the threat involving firearms. He said invoking the spirit of “Holy Ghost fire” against those who could obstruct the party’s target would be heavier, while invoking the “General Purpose Machine Gun” spirit would be lighter.
He then declared that anyone who stood in the way of the party’s plan to deliver 2.5 million votes for Tinubu would face “AK 47 fire.”
Tenebe also referred to criticism that followed Governor Okpebholo’s promise to President Tinubu that Edo would deliver 2.5 million votes in the 2027 election.
According to him, opposition figures, critics and people he described as social media politicians questioned how Edo State could produce such a large number of votes.
The APC chairman argued that the governor had already demonstrated his ability to mobilise a significant number of voters for the party.
He claimed that Okpebholo had previously proved his critics wrong by mobilising 2,156,800 votes for the APC during the last local government elections in Edo State.
Tenebe’s remarks have drawn attention because they were made in the context of preparations for the 2027 presidential election and included an apparent threat involving the use of firearms against political opponents or anyone perceived to be working against the party’s electoral target.
The APC is seeking to strengthen its political structure in Edo ahead of the 2027 elections, while the opposition is expected to mount its own campaign to challenge the ruling party’s influence in the state.
The statement has also raised concerns over the language being used by political actors as parties begin early mobilisation for the next general election.
