The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, has drawn attention after making a remark about “AK-47 fire” while discussing the party’s target of securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Tenebe made the statement during a political gathering, according to a video and reports published on Friday. He warned those he said might obstruct the party’s vote mobilisation efforts, using language that referenced a firearm.
What Tenebe said
In the reported remarks, Tenebe contrasted what he described as spiritual intervention with the use of a machine gun before declaring: “So everybody who refuses, who wants to stand in our way, for us not to have those votes that we intend to give to Mr President, AK-47 fire.”
The statement was made in the context of the APC’s stated ambition to mobilise 2.5 million votes for Tinubu in Edo State.
The reference to a firearm has raised questions about the language political leaders use when addressing supporters and discussing electoral competition.
Political mobilisation and public responsibility
Political parties routinely set vote targets and organise campaigns to mobilise supporters. However, statements that invoke weapons or threaten people perceived as obstacles can generate concern about the tone of political engagement.
The reported quotation should be assessed in its full context, including the circumstances of the gathering and any subsequent clarification from the party chairman.
The video and the published reports establish that the remark was made, but they do not, by themselves, establish that an actual plan to use firearms existed.
There is an important distinction between inflammatory political rhetoric and evidence of an operational threat. Any assessment of whether the statement amounts to a specific criminal offence would depend on the applicable law and the full circumstances.
Ahead of the 2027 election
With the next general election approaching, political parties are expected to intensify mobilisation and campaign messaging across the country.
The incident highlights the responsibility of party leaders to communicate their electoral objectives without language that could be interpreted as threatening political opponents or other citizens.
Further responses from Tenebe or the Edo APC could provide additional context about the meaning of the statement and whether the party intends to clarify its position.