Jarrett Tenebe, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has called the African Democratic Congress (ADC) a party of “gay people” and rejected it as insignificant in the state’s political landscape.Tenebe also dismissed assertions made by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a former Edo State governor and APC National Chairman who has since defected to the ADC, that the ruling party was terrified of the opposition party’s increasing power.
Tenebe claimed that the ADC posed no threat to the APC in Edo State during an appearance on PFm TV that went viral on social media. Tenebe insisted that the ruling party was firmly in charge and concentrated on growing its membership and organising voters.
“I don’t think we have anything to do with them because they are not a threat. Maybe they were a threat before, but they are not a threat now,” Tenebe said. “Do you use a sledgehammer to kill an ant? We don’t do that.”
The head of the APC blamed the ADC’s recent criticism on internal conflicts inside the opposition party, including purported disagreements over the party’s state secretariat.
“If they are directing the crisis they have within their party, which possibly affected their fighting and has to do with their secretariat, they should check themselves. APC is a disciplined and focused party,” he stated.
Tenebe noted that a number of political groups were dissolving into the ruling party in Edo State and around the nation, and that the APC was currently focused on electronic member registration.
“Right now, we are doing e-registration because a lot of parties have collapsed into APC. Our membership strength has grown beyond what we even imagined,” he said.
He went on to cast doubt on the ADC’s existence and organization in Edo State, asserting that the party was only connected to a small number of well-known people.
“We don’t even know whether ADC exists in Edo State. The only people I know in ADC here are John Odigie-Oyegun and Oserheimen Osunbor. Those are the tired leaders I know,” Tenebe said.
Additionally, the APC chairman claimed that Odigie-Oyegun and Osunbor, two former APC leaders, owed unpaid party dues during their tenure in the ruling party.
“When they were members of APC and achieved everything they achieved, they never paid dues. We have calculated those dues and they are huge. Very soon, we will visit them to come and pay that money,” he said.
Tenebe reiterated his earlier promise to deliver 3.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu, reaffirming his allegiance to the president and stating that nothing would be allowed to get in the way.
“We promised 3.5 million votes to the President. If my hand will be an impediment, I will cut it off. If it is my head, I will cut it off,” he said.
Tenebe also commended the APC governors’ performance, stating that their accomplishments were bolstering the party’s chances of winning elections, especially in Edo State.
“When you see a governor performing from the first year, you already know what to expect. What the governor is doing is campaigning for us,” he made comparisons to Lagos State, which he regarded as an example of long-term APC rule. He insisted that the APC had “taken over the state” and was not ready to cede power, and he cautioned opposition parties against what he called attempts to divert attention from the ruling party.
“They should face their own problems and leave us. This state will remain with APC for a very long time,” Tenebe added.
