The 2027 political season in Edo State has triggered a security petition, with Accord Party senatorial candidate for Edo Central, Kennedy Iyere, asking the Department of State Services to investigate alleged AK-47 remarks attributed to the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Jarett Tenebe.
Iyere made the demand in a petition to the Edo State Director of the DSS, describing the alleged remarks as capable of heightening political tension and threatening peace and security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also asked the security agency to compel Tenebe to publicly retract the alleged comments across various media platforms.
Iyere, a civil society activist and founder of Youths Off The Street Initiative, warned that the matter should not be dismissed, arguing that unresolved political tensions could trigger protests and wider agitation among young people.
He said Nigeria remained vulnerable to political instability because of youth unemployment and poverty, which he claimed had left many young people susceptible to political mobilisation.
The Accord candidate also alleged that some civil society organisations and opposition support groups were planning a nationwide protest against President Bola Tinubu and the APC under the banner of “#TinubuMustGo”.
Iyere said he had previously engaged some leaders of the groups to discourage the planned protest, which he believed could have implications for the 2027 elections and national security.
He further alleged that there were plans by the Edo State Government and APC leadership in the state to arrest some opposition support-group leaders ahead of the elections.
According to him, any such arrests could heighten anger among young people and trigger further political agitation.
“I am using this medium to draw your attention to this political threat, which if allowed to occur, will attract widespread youth rage that will lead to anti-Tinubu, anti-government, anti-APC and pro-democracy nationwide agitations,” Iyere said.
He urged the DSS to assess the alleged remarks within the broader political and security situation and take appropriate action.
Iyere also said his concerns were informed by his involvement in youth mobilisation, civil society activities and national youth intervention programmes, including the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Programme.
He appealed to the DSS to investigate the allegations and take necessary steps “in the interest of peace, stability and national security”.
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