Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, has ignited a firestorm of outrage after issuing explicit death threats to multiple social media users who criticised Governor Monday Okpebholo, with the chilling messages raising serious concerns about political intimidation and the erosion of democratic discourse in the state. Tenebe's violent outbursts, which were captured in screenshots and have since gone viral, were triggered by a Facebook post by one Samuel Iyobosa, who alleged that Governor Okpebholo had travelled to Abuja to protest his exclusion from the APC Presidential Campaign Council. In a response that has been widely condemned as authoritarian and reckless, Tenebe wrote directly to Iyobosa: "Bastard stop lying and if you continue you die".
The chairman's threatening language did not stop there. When another user, Baron Mike, commented on the exchange, calling Tenebe a "brainless man," the APC chairman allegedly responded, "Baron Mike talk nonsense you die because you are talking rubbish". Tenebe further escalated the confrontation, directing another comment at Baron Mike: "Baron Mike Baron Mike come to Nigeria and talk". In a separate exchange, Tenebe issued a particularly venomous threat against a Facebook user identified as Nehizena Ogunrobo, writing: "Nehizena Ogunrobo you are a bastard, say your real name I will look for your father, bastard fool, God punish your entire family, if you cough and I find where you are I f*** you up idiot". The graphic and unhinged nature of the threats has sparked widespread condemnation from civil society, opposition parties, and ordinary Nigerians, who have questioned how a senior party official could descend into such brazen thuggery.
This is not the first time Tenebe has been accused of using death threats to silence critics. In a separate incident in February 2026, the acting APC chairman threatened a female Facebook user, Blessing P. Agho, for criticising Governor Okpebholo. In that exchange, Tenebe told Agho via Facebook Messenger: "Your death is close. You are a bastard, just show where you are if you can. Death awaits you, idiot. Send me your address or come out to Wuse 2 in front of Atiku's campaign office at 9pm tomorrow". Agho, a businesswoman and political leader from Edo State, shared screenshots of the threat, asking: "How did this retarded, mentally unstable person end up becoming a state chairman?". The incident prompted the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party to call on security agencies to investigate Tenebe and prosecute him. The PDP also urged President Bola Tinubu to call Tenebe to order, warning that his silence would amount to an endorsement of violence.
The latest threats have drawn sharp criticism from socio-accountability platforms and civil society organisations. MonITNG, a socio-accountability platform, described Tenebe's alleged statements as "deeply disturbing and unacceptable" and urged the APC leadership to investigate the matter. In a statement addressed to Governor Okpebholo, the platform said: "What is happening within the APC in Edo State raises serious concerns about political maturity and responsible leadership". The platform further warned that political disagreements are normal in a democracy and should not be settled through intimidation or threats. "Criticism should be answered with facts, not insults, intimidation or threats to life. No political disagreement justifies language that could reasonably be interpreted as a threat of violence," the statement read. MonITNG also called on the APC to demonstrate that internal disagreements could be resolved through dialogue and established party mechanisms.
Reacting separately, Ilevbaoje Imoukhuede of MonITNG also criticised Tenebe, warning that his choice of words could damage the image of the APC. The platform's intervention underscores the growing concern that political leaders in Edo State are increasingly resorting to intimidation and thuggery to suppress dissent, a trend that threatens to undermine democratic accountability and the rule of law. The PDP's earlier statement had warned that Tenebe's conduct marked a "dangerous descent into political barbarism" and that "when a party chairman believes he can threaten citizens with death for exercising their constitutional right to free expression, democracy itself is under assault". The party further described Tenebe as "a clear and present threat to democracy in Edo State".
The controversy surrounding Tenebe's threats also sheds light on the internal crisis within the Edo APC. The chairman's aggressive response to criticism of Governor Okpebholo comes amid reports that the governor had travelled to Abuja to protest his exclusion from the APC Presidential Campaign Council. While the governor's alleged trip was meant to be addressed through internal party channels, Tenebe's violent reaction has instead drawn national attention to the dysfunction and intolerance within the party's Edo State chapter. The incident has also raised questions about Governor Okpebholo's leadership and whether he will condemn the chairman's actions or continue to tolerate a culture of intimidation within his party.
As the backlash intensifies, calls are growing for security agencies to investigate Tenebe and hold him accountable for his threats. The Edo State Police Command has yet to comment on the matter, but civil society groups and opposition parties are demanding swift action to prevent further escalation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of Nigeria's democracy and the dangers posed by political actors who believe that power can be sustained through fear and coercion. For the people of Edo State, the question is no longer just about political competition; it is about whether their leaders will respect the fundamental right of citizens to speak freely without fearing for their lives.
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