The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, has dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as politically irrelevant, calling it a party of “gay people”.
Tenebe also laughed off assertions by former APC National Chairman and ex-Edo State governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, now with the ADC, that the ruling party was panicking over the opposition’s growing presence in the state.
Speaking during an interview on PFm TV in a video that has since gone viral on social media, the APC chairman insisted the ADC posed no threat to the ruling party, declaring that APC remained firmly in charge of Edo’s political terrain.
“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,” he noted.
Tenebe blamed recent criticisms from the ADC on what he described as internal crises rocking the opposition party, including disputes allegedly attributed to its 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 said.
He said the APC was currently focused on electronic registration of members, claiming that several political parties were collapsing into the ruling party both in Edo State and nationwide.
“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,” Tenebe said.
Questioning whether the ADC even exists in Edo State, the APC chairman said only a few well-known figures could be linked to the party.
“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,” he said.
Tenebe also accused the two former APC leaders of failing to pay party dues during their time 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.
Doubling down on his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, Tenebe reiterated his pledge to deliver 3.5 million votes for the President, vowing to remove anything that stands 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.
He also praised APC governors, particularly in Edo State, saying their performances were already campaigning for the party ahead of future elections.
“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 said.
Tenebe wrapped up by warning opposition parties to stop what he called distractions, insisting the APC had taken full control of Edo State.
“They should face their own problems and leave us. This state will remain with APC for a very long time,” he added.