The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) through the ballot in the 2027 elections, following controversial remarks attributed to Edo APC chairman Jarrett Tenebe in a viral video.
The ADC said it would not be intimidated by what it described as threats, intimidation and political blackmail, insisting that its primary weapon in the election would be voters’ Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The party made the declaration during an enlarged senatorial meeting in Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, where its candidates for the state and National Assembly elections in Edo Central Senatorial District were unveiled.
The meeting was also used to mobilise ward, local government and senatorial structures ahead of the 2027 elections. Members of the APC, New Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also defected to the ADC.
Speaking at the gathering, former governorship aspirant and ADC chieftain Kenneth Imansuaghon, who represented the party’s National Leader and former Edo State Governor, Oserhiemen Osunbor, said the ADC would defeat the APC in 2027.
Imansuaghon also expressed confidence that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, would emerge as Nigeria’s next president.
“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,” he said.
Imansuaghon also criticised the condition of the road between Benin and his Ewohimi community, saying the journey had taken him more than five hours compared with 45 minutes under the previous PDP administration.
Reacting to the viral video in which Tenebe was reported to have referenced an AK-47 while discussing the APC’s 2.5 million-vote target for President Bola Tinubu in Edo, Imansuaghon said the ADC would rely on voters rather than firearms.
“What we have is not the guns. They have said they have the AK-47, but we have the people. With our PVC, APC will be sent packing,” he said.
He added that any attempt to rig the election would be resisted, saying Nigerians would be ready to defend their votes and democracy.
Tenebe’s remarks, which were captured in a video circulating online, referred to “AK-47 fire” against those he said might stand in the way of the APC’s plan to secure votes for Tinubu.
Imansuaghon also predicted that Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo would be defeated in Edo Central and described the APC’s projected 2.5 million votes for Tinubu as a “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,” he said.
Edo ADC chairman Tony Alile similarly said threats would not stop voters from exercising their constitutional rights.
Reacting to the video, Alile said law enforcement agencies should examine the remarks attributed to Tenebe.
“Nobody can discourage or stop voters from coming out to exercise their franchise. It is their civic responsibility,” he said.
Alile urged Edo residents dissatisfied with the APC to use their PVCs at the polls, describing the ballot as the ADC’s principal means of challenging the ruling party.
“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,” he said.
He called on ADC leaders at ward and unit levels to intensify grassroots mobilisation, saying victory in 2027 would require collective effort.
Among those present at the meeting were Alile, Imansuaghon, Sylvester Ewanehi, Braimoh, Emmanuel Ihiahi, Stella Ali, ADC Edo Central senatorial candidate Herberta Okonofua and Barnabas Odion.
The ADC also called on Edo voters to support Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election, presenting the party as an alternative to the APC.
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