Comrade Kennedy Iyere, Accord Party senatorial candidate for Edo Central in the 2027 general elections, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), Edo State Command, urging the immediate investigation of Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarett Tenebe, over alleged political remarks involving an AK-47.
Iyere said the alleged remarks, if left unaddressed, could heighten political tensions, provoke retaliatory reactions among young people and undermine peace and political stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a petition addressed to the State Director of the DSS in Edo State, Iyere described the alleged remarks as an “ugly political development” capable of threatening peace, political stability and national security. He called on the security agency to investigate the matter and, if necessary, require Tenebe to publicly retract the remarks.
Iyere also raised concerns over what he described as reports that the Edo State Government and the state APC leadership could move against leaders of opposition support groups ahead of the 2027 elections. He stressed that such actions, if they occurred, could generate tension and provoke unrest.
According to him, the country’s existing economic and security challenges make inflammatory political rhetoric particularly dangerous, especially given the large population of unemployed and economically vulnerable young Nigerians.
“Nigeria today remains a very volatile state due to the existing chronic youth unemployment and extreme youth poverty which have subjected millions of youths across the country, to a life of severe frustration and hopelessness,” Iyere said in the petition.
He further argued that politically motivated protests or confrontations at a sensitive period could have consequences beyond the immediate political dispute.
“I know that any youth-led and CSO-driven politically-motivated anti-government protest which occurs in Nigeria at this critical time will have severe damaging consequences on the forthcoming 2027 general elections,” he stated, adding that such developments could also pose threats to “Nigeria’s socio-political stability and national security.”
The Accord Party candidate said he had previously worked with civil society networks and youth organisations to discourage politically motivated protests, particularly those that could escalate into violence. He urged security authorities to focus on preventing actions and statements that could trigger a cycle of confrontation.
His petition specifically asked the DSS to investigate the alleged AK-47 remarks attributed to Tenebe and, if the agency finds them culpable, require him to retract or reverse the statements through the media.
“Based on this, I am officially requesting for the immediate arrest and probe of Jarett Tenebe by the Department of State Services (DSS), Edo State Command. Additionally, he should be mandated by the DSS to openly retract or reverse his AK-47 Political Threat Remarks through various media platforms,” the petitioner wrote.
Iyere also referred to what he described as “widely rumoured” plans to arrest some leaders of opposition support groups in Edo State ahead of the 2027 elections. He did not present the alleged plans as an established fact, but urged the DSS to take note of the claim because of its potential security implications.
“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 anti-Nigeria pro-democracy nationwide agitations,” he stated.
The petitioner appealed for preventive rather than reactive security measures, arguing that political disagreements should be managed through lawful democratic processes and that neither threats nor violent mobilisation should be allowed to become part of the electoral process.
He said the 2027 elections should be approached in an atmosphere where political parties and their supporters can campaign, organise and compete without intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric or violence.
“Please note that these issues raised in this letter are valid requests that require your immediate action, in the interest of peace, stability and national security,” Iyere concluded.
Iyere introduced himself in the petition as a humanitarian activist, political figure, civil society leader, social entrepreneur and youth mobiliser. He identified himself as the founder and chief executive officer of the Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), and said he had established several youth-oriented economic empowerment initiatives targeting unemployment, poverty and youth vulnerability to crime and radicalisation.
He also listed several political and civic initiatives with which he said he had been associated, including the Obidient Movement, Save Nigeria-2015 Campaign, 40Million Ballots Movement, Civil Society Committee for Anti-Fraud Election Security (CISCAES), Nigeria For Peace Initiative and the National Peace-building Stakeholders Conference.
Iyere further stated that he heads the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Programme (YEIDEP), which he described as a Federal Government youth economic intervention programme designed to provide young Nigerians with opportunities for entrepreneurship, self-employment and economic participation.
He said his work with young people and civil society organisations had brought him into contact with security agencies, including the DSS, particularly in relation to youth engagement and efforts aimed at preventing radicalisation and unrest.
As a political candidate for Edo Central Senatorial District, Iyere said his interest in the matter was therefore both political and security-related, insisting that inflammatory political rhetoric should be addressed through lawful institutions rather than allowed to escalate into confrontation.
He copied the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the petition, alongside the DSS authorities, drawing the attention of the Federal Government to what he considers a matter requiring attention in the interest of peace, political stability and national security.
The petition comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Iyere urging political actors, security agencies, civil society groups and young Nigerians to reject violence and threats and allow political disagreements to be resolved through democratic and lawful means.