By John Mayaki

In Edo State politics, a new form of loyalty has emerged, the era of what Emperor Jarret Tenebe, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, metaphorically described as political “zombies.”

 The phrase surfaced in a recent video that has since drawn widespread attention.

The event took place during a gathering of the City Boy Movement in Benin City, where Tenebe used the term “zombies” to illustrate the unwavering loyalty of the party’s leadership to the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, particularly in the task of ensuring President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

In that video, loyalty was portrayed in its most extreme form — unwavering, disciplined, and resolute. It was about commitment without hesitation or half measures, reflecting a call for total alignment behind leadership and collective vision.

At first glance, the expression raised eyebrows and generated various reactions on social media. Yet for those familiar with the discipline of politics and the expectations it places on party structure, Tenebe’s statement was not a careless outburst or comic exaggeration. It was, instead, a declaration of absolute faith in leadership and a reaffirmation of unity within the party.

Having studied the concept of the “zombie” in global pop culture and film, I find Tenebe’s metaphor deeply symbolic rather than literal. During my postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, where I earned a degree in Communication, Culture, and Media, I explored the idea of the “American Nightmare” through films such as Night of the Living Dead, The Last House on the Left, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween.

These films often portrayed zombies as symbols — not just monsters, but representations of collective purpose and resilience. They depicted how people, united by a cause, could move forward with determination, even when faced with fear or uncertainty. In that sense, zombies reflected society’s understanding of loyalty, discipline, and the tension between individuality and collective strength.

When Emperor Tenebe described himself and his team in that metaphorical sense, it became clearer that he was emphasizing unity, discipline, and the readiness to work tirelessly for the success of the APC under the guidance of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

> “We have no break, no gear. Whatever the governor tells us to do, we cannot argue,” he said to applause.

That statement, stripped of drama, simply underscores his belief in teamwork and collective responsibility. It was a vivid metaphor for absolute organizational discipline — the kind of political coherence that often defines success.

In politics, such relentlessness can be an asset when channeled toward public good. What Tenebe was saying, in essence, is that the APC in Edo State is now functioning with a single, undivided focus: loyalty to the governor, alignment with the president’s vision, and the collective advancement of Edo State.

This form of political discipline is increasingly rare in today’s landscape, where personal ambition and individual interest often overshadow collective goals. For Tenebe, to be a “zombie” in his metaphorical sense is to put aside ego and hesitation in the pursuit of a shared objective — the progress of Edo State, the success of the APC, and the realization of national priorities under the current administration.

Interestingly, when the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti sang “Tell am to go kill, na joro jara joro”, he used the term zombie to criticize unquestioning military obedience. Fela’s “zombie” symbolized blind conformity to command. But Tenebe’s usage of the term appears to reclaim and redefine it. In his context, it represents disciplined commitment, not mindless obedience — a willingness to act rather than argue, to produce results rather than excuses.

Decades after Fela’s song, the metaphor has resurfaced, but this time as a statement of conviction and solidarity rather than protest.

It must be said that it takes a certain degree of candor and confidence to use such a provocative metaphor in describing political loyalty. In doing so, Tenebe has sparked a wider discussion about what true commitment means in party politics. His description was not about subservience, but about teamwork, focus, and discipline.

While others may interpret political loyalty as transactional, Tenebe’s words suggest a belief in purposeful cooperation — one that places collective interest above personal ambition. Under Governor Okpebholo’s leadership, the APC in Edo appears to be embracing a culture of cohesion and discipline necessary for effective governance and electoral success.

Whether one agrees with his choice of words or not, Tenebe’s metaphor stands as both symbol and statement — that in Edo APC, the focus now is unity of purpose. The governor has in Tenebe a committed leader guiding a team determined to move forward with focus, discipline, and resolve — even if, as he humorously put it, the world chooses to call them “zombies.”

*Maiyaki, a former media aide to ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki, writes from Benin-City