2027: This is terrorism, not politics— ADC blasts APC over AK-47 threat

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, ADC PCC, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of planning to use intimidation and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council made the allegation while reacting to a reported threat by the Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, to deploy AK-47 rifles against anyone who attempts to prevent the party from securing the 2.5 million votes it has promised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Tenebe’s alleged statement as “inciting” and “terroristic.”

The ADC PCC also condemned the reported attack on its members and the destruction of vehicles belonging to party supporters at Gegu in Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

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The statement reads in full: “the alleged threat amounted to an attempt to intimidate voters and create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the 2027 elections.

“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.

“This is terrorism, and not politics. This is the height of desperation by a party that has failed Nigerians woefully,” he said.

The ADC PCC said it had expected the APC leadership and President Tinubu to condemn the alleged statement or demand its retraction but claimed that no such action had been taken.

Ologbondiyan further alleged that following President Tinubu’s reported remark that “all is fair in politics,” some APC members had increasingly resorted to intimidation, harassment and violations of the law.

He argued that the APC could not legitimately secure 2.5 million votes in Edo State through a free, fair and credible electoral process, claiming that voters in the state were politically sophisticated and dissatisfied with the hardship and insecurity under the APC-led administration.

The ADC PCC director said the alleged threat to use AK-47 rifles against voters constituted a violation of the Electoral Act and the Constitution and should be investigated by relevant authorities.

He urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to invite Tenebe for questioning over the alleged threat.

The council also called on the international community, including the United Nations, European Union, African Union, ECOWAS and the United States, to monitor political developments ahead of the 2027 elections.

Ologbondiyan said the 2027 election would be “a referendum” on the performance of the APC-led administration, insisting that intimidation and threats would not stop Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right to vote.

On the reported attack on ADC members in Gegu, Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State, the council urged security agencies to identify and prosecute 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,” Ologbondiyan said.

He called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged authorities to ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

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