The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, has expressed strong hostility towards Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), threatening to spit in his face and make physical contact with him if they meet.
Tenebe also threatened to spit in the face of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, accusing opposition politicians of concentrating on criticising President Bola Tinubu rather than presenting policy alternatives during their campaigns.
The Edo APC chairman made the remarks during an interview in which he defended the Tinubu administration’s policies and addressed the controversy surrounding his earlier reference to “AK-47 fire”.
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Speaking about a possible encounter with opposition presidential candidates, Tenebe said he would confront them over their criticism of the president.
“If I see them, I will spit in their faces,” he said.
He expressed particular animosity towards Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, making further disturbing remarks about what he would do if they met.
“As for Obi, I hate him, and I maintain that. If I see him, I will spit in his face and bite his nose. I will pretend that I want to tell him something, then bite his ear and chew it. Take it like that. I hate him,” Tenebe said.
The APC chairman also questioned Obi’s political alliance with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is identified in the report as his running mate under the NDC.
Tenebe argued that the two politicians held conflicting positions on certain issues, citing their perceived differences over alcohol consumption as a reason to question their ability to govern Nigeria together.
“How can he want to be president with someone I consider his oppressor as his running mate? If the two of them cannot agree on what should be in a glass, how can they govern Nigeria?” he asked.
Turning to Atiku, Tenebe said his opposition to the former vice-president was primarily driven by his criticism of Tinubu. He distinguished this from his personal dislike of Obi, whom he accused of lacking sincerity.
“I do not like Atiku at the moment because he is insulting the president. But I hate Peter Obi because he is not genuine,” Tenebe added.
He maintained that political campaigns should focus on policy proposals rather than personal attacks, insisting that he would not remain silent when opposition figures criticised the president.
“People should stop insulting the president. I then expressed my wish for our enemies,” he said, explaining his earlier controversial comments.
Tenebe Defends ‘AK-47 Fire’ Remark
The Edo APC chairman also defended his earlier “AK-47 fire” comment, which attracted criticism over its perceived violent implications.
Asked whether the statement was intended as a joke, metaphor or threat, Tenebe denied expressing an intention to shoot political opponents. He argued that his words amounted to a prayer or wish rather than a threat of physical violence.
According to him, the statement had been taken out of context. He compared the expression to the Christian phrase “Holy Ghost fire”, which is sometimes used in prayers against perceived enemies.
“I said clearly: ‘I have a wish and a prayer for our enemies.’ I said I would not invoke Holy Ghost fire because it would consume the person and the person would die. Instead, I said I would wish them ‘AK-47 fire,’” he explained.
Tenebe further argued that he had not threatened to shoot anyone for refusing to support the APC.
“Did I say I would shoot anyone with an AK-47? I did not. I was only wishing it on them. If people say that is wrong, they should also tell Christians to stop saying ‘Holy Ghost fire.’ I used ‘AK-47 fire’ in that same context,” he said.
He also attempted to distinguish between a bullet fired from an AK-47 rifle and the flash of fire produced when the weapon is discharged, insisting that his comment referred to the latter.
“Two things come out of an AK-47 when you fire it: the bullet and the fire. The bullet kills; the fire does not. They are two different things,” Tenebe said.
He maintained that he had never advocated an attack on any political opponent and reiterated his position that campaigns should centre on policy issues.
Edo APC Targets 2.5 Million Votes for Tinubu
On the party’s electoral prospects in Edo State, Tenebe expressed confidence that the APC could secure 2.5 million votes for Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election.
He based the projection on what he described as the party’s performance in the most recent local government election, claiming that the APC secured 2,158,600 votes across the state’s 18 local government areas.
According to Tenebe, the party needs approximately 400,000 additional votes to reach its target.
He acknowledged that previous elections in Edo had not produced a combined total of 1.5 million votes for all political parties but argued that the latest local government election provided a basis for the APC’s projection.
He attributed the party’s claimed performance to the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo and its political mobilisation efforts.
The APC chairman also disclosed that the party had identified more than one million registered voters from Edo State who live outside the state and was making plans to facilitate their return for the 2027 presidential election.
He said the party was considering chartered flights and road transportation to bring eligible voters home, adding that some supporters and businesspeople had offered assistance.
“If you have your voter’s card and are registered to vote in Edo, you can go to the airport and be brought home. After voting, you will be taken back,” he said.
Tenebe further stated that the party hoped to secure additional local government areas for Edo State through its support for Tinubu.
He urged residents to vote for APC candidates in state and federal elections, arguing that victories in the State House of Assembly and National Assembly would help advance efforts to create additional local government areas.
APC Promises to Highlight Tinubu’s Policies
Tenebe said the APC intended to focus its campaign on explaining the benefits of the Tinubu administration’s policies, including the removal of the petrol subsidy.
He argued that the increase in allocations to state governments following the subsidy removal had provided additional resources to help cushion the economic impact on residents.
The chairman maintained that the party would continue to defend the administration’s economic decisions while mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
