Edo APC Chairman Issues ‘AK-47 Fire’ Warning Over Party’s 2.5 Million-Vote Target for Tinubu

The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, has sparked controversy after making a reference to “AK-47 fire” while speaking about the party’s plan to secure 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Tenebe made the remarks while addressing supporters and discussing the APC’s performance in the recently held Edo State local government council election.

According to the report by Gistreel, Tenebe said the APC recorded 2,158,600 votes in the local government election and described the figure as evidence of the party’s mobilisation capacity in the state.

The APC chairman said the result had demonstrated that the party could work towards the larger target of delivering 2.5 million votes to Tinubu in 2027.

“What we are trying to achieve is the 2.5 million votes,” Tenebe said.

Tenebe defends 2.5 million-vote target

The 2.5 million-vote target had previously been announced by Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo, who said in May that the state was prepared to deliver the figure for Tinubu's re-election bid. Channels Television reported at the time that Okpebholo linked the pledge to the turnout recorded during the APC presidential primary in his ward.

The target was reiterated by the Edo APC leadership following the July local government elections.

Punch reported that Tenebe said the party's performance in that election demonstrated its position ahead of the 2027 general election and again pledged 2.5 million votes for Tinubu.

However, Tenebe's latest remarks have drawn attention because of the language he used when warning those he said might attempt to frustrate the party's objective.

‘AK-47 fire’

According to Gistreel's account of the speech, Tenebe said people who did not wish the APC well and attempted to obstruct the party's efforts would face what he described as “AK-47 fire.”

He first referred to what he called a “prayer” against those seeking to create obstacles for the party.

He then said:

“So anybody 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 has subsequently circulated online, generating discussion because it invoked a firearm in the context of an electoral objective.

The available report does not establish whether Tenebe intended the statement literally or as a rhetorical expression. What is documented is that he made the “AK-47 fire” reference while discussing efforts to secure votes for Tinubu.

Tenebe links votes to local government creation

Beyond the warning, Tenebe also explained why he considered the 2.5 million-vote target important.

He argued that the number of votes generated by a state was connected to the possibility of obtaining additional local governments and states.

“It is the number of votes such states turn out that make it possible,” he said, according to the report.

He further argued that having more local governments would bring development closer to communities.

Tenebe subsequently urged APC supporters to work towards delivering the targeted votes to Tinubu.

Claim that Tinubu can create additional local governments

Tenebe also directly connected the party's support for Tinubu with his argument concerning additional local governments.

According to the report, he told supporters that the votes should be delivered to the APC because, in his view, Tinubu was the person capable of creating additional local governments.

“Why those votes have to be turned in for APC is because the only person that can create local government for us is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

That statement is Tenebe's political argument and should not be read as an independent explanation of Nigeria's constitutional or statutory process for creating local government areas.

What the controversy is about

The controversy surrounding Tenebe's remarks is therefore centred primarily on the “AK-47 fire” expression, rather than simply on the APC's stated ambition to win votes in Edo State.

Political parties routinely set electoral targets and mobilise supporters around them. In this case, the Edo APC has publicly maintained a target of 2.5 million votes for Tinubu. In comparison, Tenebe has cited the party's reported 2,158,600 votes in the local government election as evidence of its mobilisation efforts.

The firearm reference, however, introduces a different dimension because it was made in connection with people who might attempt to prevent the party from achieving its electoral target.

Other reports have also highlighted the sensitivity of political statements that could be interpreted as threatening or inciting violence during an election period.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, statements by political actors involving violence or firearms are likely to attract scrutiny from political opponents, civil society groups and election observers.

For now, the key facts are that the Edo APC leadership has maintained its 2.5 million-vote target for Tinubu; Tenebe cited the party's reported performance in the recent local government election and used the phrase “AK-47 fire” while warning those he said might obstruct the party's efforts.

The meaning and intent behind that particular expression remain matters of interpretation unless Tenebe provides further clarification.

Source: https://punchng.com/edo-apc-hails-lg-poll-pledges-2-5-million-votes-for-tinubu