The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has demanded that security agencies arrest and prosecute the state’s acting All Progressives Congress Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, following allegations that he issued death threats to a woman who criticised Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The opposition party made the call after screenshots circulated on social media showing messages allegedly sent by Tenebe to Blessing P Agho, a Facebook user, on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
In the messages shared by Agho, the APC chairman allegedly wrote: “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.”
The threats were reportedly triggered by Agho’s online criticism of the Okpebholo administration’s governance.
In a statement released by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, on Sunday, February 8, the PDP described the alleged threats as an assault on democracy and demanded immediate action from law enforcement.
The statement emphasised that citizens must not be terrorised for exercising their constitutional right to free speech, and political office holders must not be allowed to make threats without consequences.
The opposition party also directed its appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to publicly condemn Tenebe’s actions and distance himself from what it called “threats of violence, voter intimidation and anti-democratic conduct in Edo State.”
The PDP warned that presidential silence on the matter would be interpreted as tacit approval of such behaviour.
“The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns, in the strongest terms, the reckless, thuggish and openly murderous threats issued by the Acting Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, against a female citizen whose only ‘offence’ was to criticise the misgovernance and failures of the Monday Okpebholo administration,” the statement read.
The PDP characterised the alleged threats as evidence of political barbarism, arguing that democracy cannot survive when party officials believe they can threaten citizens with death for criticism.
“This is not political rhetoric. It is not a metaphor. It is a direct threat to life, issued by a senior official of the ruling party in Edo State,” the party stated.
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“This development marks a dangerous descent into political barbarism. When a party chairman believes he can threaten citizens with death for exercising their constitutional right to free expression, democracy itself is under assault.
“Mr Tenebe’s conduct is the language of fear, intimidation and brute force, not of democratic leadership.”
The party described Tenebe as a “clear and present threat to democracy in Edo State,” linking his alleged behaviour to what it called a broader pattern of intolerance and lawlessness within the state’s APC leadership.
“It must be stated clearly that Jarrett Tenebe has become a clear and present threat to democracy in Edo State. His utterances mirror a pattern of intolerance and lawlessness that has come to define the Edo APC under Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“From verbal abuse to open threats of violence, the party has steadily replaced persuasion with coercion,” the statement said.
The PDP urged President Tinubu to examine the character of those claiming to act in his interest in Edo State.
“The PDP therefore draws the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the character and conduct of those who claim to be acting in his interest in Edo State.
“The President must ask himself a simple question: what manner of ‘support’ is being offered when it is built on threats, lies and the terrorisation of citizens?”
The party warned that failure to address Tenebe’s conduct would encourage further violence and repression.
“Nigeria’s democracy has suffered too much to be handed over to political enforcers who believe power is sustained by fear.
“Mr Tenebe’s behaviour, if left unchecked, will embolden further acts of violence and repression, with dire consequences for public safety and national stability,” the party stated.
As of the time of this report, neither Tenebe nor the Edo State APC had issued any statement addressing the allegations.