2027: Questions as Edo APC Chairman threatens ‘AK-47 Fire’ against anyone blocking Tinubu’s 2.5m votes
By OUR REPORTER
An Osun State Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, in the build-up to the Saturday August 15, 2026 governorship election in the state used similar means of threatening voters of conscience like Tenebe just did.
The increasing rate at which the All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians are allegedly breaking the rules of the 2027 game without them being arrested either by security agents or checked by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is causing many Nigerians to ask many questions.
This is coming as the Edo State Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, threatened to deploy what he described as the “power of AK-47” against anyone who attempts to frustrate the party’s plan to secure 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election in the state.
Tenebe made the statement during one of the campaign rallies held as Governor Monday Okpebholo toured the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State to mobilise support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a video circulating on social media and reported in the newspapers, the APC chairman was heard making remarks about using the “AK-47 fire” against individuals who, in his words, might stand in the way of the party’s target of delivering 2.5 million votes for Tinubu.
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He linked the number of votes a state delivers to the Federal Government with the prospects of securing greater development attention, including the possible creation of additional local government areas and states, a yardstick Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, refused to use in delivering his duty to Nigerian people on governance.
The DEFENDER reports that Eastern Nigeria, particularly Ebonyi and Anambra, benefited immensely from Buhari’s government despite that the entire votes he got from the whole of Eastern Nigeria was nothing to be proud of.
But supporters of his successor, Tinubu, are proudly threatening to carryout electoral violence because they want to give the president humongous votes to enjoy federal presence in their respective states under him, Tenebe has proved to be a ready example of such Tinubu’s party leaders and supporters.
Tenebe said those opposing the APC’s target had questioned how Edo State could produce 2.5 million votes for the President.
He described such critics as “haters, the opposition people and the social media politicians,” and maintained that the state’s political leadership was capable of achieving the target.
“So anybody who refuses, who wants to stand in our way of not getting the 2.5 million votes we want to give to Mr President, AK-47 fire,” Tenebe said.
He also referred to religious and military imagery while discussing the perceived opposition to the party’s objective, saying the invocation of “Holy Ghost fire” would be heavier, while describing the “General Purpose Machine Gun” spirit as lighter.
Tenebe further claimed that Governor Okpebholo had already demonstrated his ability to mobilise a large number of votes, alleging that the governor secured 2,156,800 votes for the APC during the most recent local government elections in the state.
The remarks have drawn attention because of their reference to firearms in the context of an approaching electoral contest. The 2027 general election is expected to feature intense competition among political parties and presidential candidates.
An Osun State Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, in the build-up to the Saturday August 15, 2026 governorship election in the state used similar means of threatening voters of conscience like Tenebe just did.
Fadahunsi was – in a viral video – making remarks interpreted as calling for Accord Party members to be killed if encountered during the election period. The National Human Rights Commission subsequently called for his suspension and arrest, describing the reported remarks as incitement to violence.
However, Fadahunsi denied advocating violence, saying the video had been edited and that he was referring to retaliation if alleged attacks on APC members continued. His media office later characterised the “kill” remark as metaphorical, meaning defeating Accord politically through votes.
The police invited him for questioning, and a court subsequently ordered a police investigation into the alleged killing comments but this global online newspaper is not aware whether or not report it the police investigation is out.
Political parties and candidates are expected to conduct campaigns within Nigeria’s electoral and criminal laws, while the use or threat of violence during elections remains a serious issue for electoral authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders.
