Amnesty International Nigeria has accused Nigeria’s security agencies of failing in their responsibilities following an alleged threat of political violence by the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The rights organisation made the allegation in a statement published on its official X account on Friday, October 3, 2026, expressing concern over what it described as public threats of violence by politicians ahead of the elections.
Amnesty International specifically cited a reported statement by Tenebe, who was allegedly quoted as threatening to invoke the “power of AK-47” against anyone plotting to frustrate the APC’s plan to secure 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
According to the organisation, the statement was made during a political campaign rally in Edo State, a state Amnesty described as an area where political violence has already been a concern.
Amnesty criticised the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) over what it described as their failure to take action while politicians allegedly make public threats of violence in the build-up to the 2027 elections.
The organisation said such statements were being made “in utter disregard for the rule of law and the nation’s Electoral Act.”
In its statement, Amnesty International Nigeria said, “Nigeria’s security agencies are failing in their responsibilities, @PoliceNG @OfficialDSSNG as some politicians continue to publicly threaten violence ahead of 2027 elections, in utter disregard for the rule of law and the nation’s Electoral Act.”
It added, “The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, was quoted threatening ‘to invoke the ‘power of AK-47’ against anyone plotting to thwart the party’s plan to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.”
The rights group said the reported comments were particularly concerning given the history of political violence and the potential consequences of inflammatory rhetoric during an election period.
Amnesty International called on Nigeria’s security and law enforcement authorities to investigate threats of politically motivated violence and ensure that individuals responsible for making, carrying out or inciting such threats are held accountable, irrespective of their political affiliation.
The organisation stressed that accountability should apply to politicians and other leaders across political parties and groups who are responsible for carrying out, inciting or threatening politically, religiously or ethnically motivated violence or human rights abuses.
“Ahead of 2027 elections and beyond, it is essential that the Nigerian authorities ensure that any politician or other leaders, of any political party or grouping, responsible for carrying out or inciting or threatening politically, religiously or ethnically-motivated violence or human rights abuses must be held to account,” Amnesty said.
The organisation’s intervention comes as political parties and aspirants begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with campaign activities and political mobilisation expected to intensify in the months ahead.
Amnesty International’s statement places renewed attention on the responsibility of security agencies to respond to alleged threats of electoral violence and on the obligation of political actors to conduct their activities within the framework of Nigeria’s laws.