2027: Edo ADC hits back at APC over AK-47 threat - The Guardian Nigeria News
The Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has replied to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over threat in the forthcoming 2027 elections, saying Permanent Voter Card would determine winners and not AK-47 riffle.
This followed a video circulating online wherein State Chairman of the APC, Jerrett Tenebe, threatened to use AK-47 riffle on whoever fails to vote for the party especially President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking at a meeting over the weekend in Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area of the state where candidates for the state and National Assembly elections in Edo Central Senatorial District were formally unveiled, National Leader of the ADC and former governor of the state, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor, declared that the ADC will not succumb to what he described as threats, intimidation and political blackmail.
Leaders of the ADC in the state also welcomed defectors from the APC, New Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the enlarged meeting.
Osunbor, represented by Kenneth Imansuagbon, a former governorship aspirant in the state, while insisting that the ADC is mobilising Nigerians to vote out the maladministration of the APC-led governments in the 2027 general elections, declared that the people’s votes would defeat any attempt at electoral manipulation.
The National Leader of the party, expressed confidence that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would emerge as Nigeria’s next president, adding: “ADC will win the 2027 election and Atiku Abubakar will be the next president because the APC has failed Nigerians. Nigerians are tired of the suffering in the land, tired of poor road infrastructure and tired of insecurity.
“What we have is not guns. They have said they have the AK-47, but we have the people. With our PVC, APC will be sent packing. If they think they can rig the election, they are living in a fool’s paradise. Nigerians will be ready to defend democracy and the votes of the Nigerian people.”
Osunbor, who described the turnout at the meeting as evidence of growing public dissatisfaction with the APC, said it was unacceptable for any government to inflict hardship on the people.
He further described Atiku as the most prepared presidential candidate, adding that he was ready to rescue the country, restore hope and return Nigeria to its lost glory.
Osunbor, who hails from the same senatorial district with the state governor, predicted defeat for Governor Monday Okpebholo, and dismissed the APC’s projected 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu as a political smokescreen.
“In Edo Central, I can tell you that Okpebholo will be defeated because the people are with us. The 2.5 million votes promised Tinubu is a smokescreen. We want Tinubu to know that Okpebholo is deceiving the President. Nobody can rig our election,” he said.
Also speaking, Edo ADC Chairman, Tony Alile, declared that no amount of threats would discourage voters from exercising their constitutional rights, insisting that the party would defend democracy through the ballot.
Also reacting to the viral video allegedly showing Tenebe making references to an AK-47, Alile said: “It is their civic responsibility, and it is not in our Constitution that a private citizen can brandish a machine gun, which he mentioned as AK-47. I believe the law enforcement agencies have also seen the video and, at the appropriate time, they will invite him for questioning.”
“The weapon ADC has is 200 times bigger and smarter than the AK-47 the other man mentioned, and that weapon is called the PVC. If you are tired of the hunger and suffering in the land, I don’t need to tell you to use your PVC as your weapon against this government that has no heart.”
He urged party leaders at the ward and unit levels to intensify mobilisation, stressing that victory in 2027 would require collective commitment and an all-hands-on-deck approach.
