By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it would not succumb to threats, intimidation and political blackmail by the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that it was mobilising Nigerians to vote out the ruling party in the 2027 general elections.

Making reference to a recent public comment by the State Chairman of the APC where he likened the fire that would consume perceived obstacles to 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu to the fire from an AK-47 rifle, the opposition party said Nigerians and voters were powerful enough to neutralize whatever plans the ruling party have.

The party made the declaration at an enlarged senatorial meeting involving ward, local government and senatorial leaders in Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, where candidates for the State and National Assembly elections in Edo Central Senatorial District were formally unveiled.

Speaking at the gathering, former governorship aspirant and party stalwart, Barrister Kenneth Imansuaghon, who represented the party’s National Leader and former Edo State Governor, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, expressed confidence that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would emerge as Nigeria’s next president.

“If they think they can rig the election, they are living in a fool’s paradise. Nigerians will be ready to defend democracy and the votes of the Nigerian people..

“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. We want Tinubu to know that Okpebholo is deceiving the President. Nobody can rig our election,” he said.

Also speaking, Edo ADC Chairman, Tony Alile, declared that no amount of threats would discourage voters from exercising their constitutional rights, insisting that the party would defend democracy through the ballot.

“Nobody can discourage or stop voters from coming out to exercise their franchise. It is their civic responsibility, and it is not in our Constitution that a private citizen can brandish a machine gun, which he mentioned as AK-47. I believe the law enforcement agencies have also seen the video and, at the appropriate time, they will invite him for questioning.

“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. If you are tired of the hunger and suffering in the land, I don’t need to tell you to use your PVC as your weapon against this government that has no heart.”

Prominent party leaders at the meeting included Tony Alile, Kenneth Imansuaghon, Hon. Sylvester Ewanehi, Hon. Braimoh, Chief Emmanuel Ihiahi, Stella Ali, ADC Edo Central Senatorial candidate, Hon. Herberta Okonofua, and Engr. Barnabas Odion.