“Only APC in Edo or Else!” — Governor’s Aide Sparks Outrage with 2027 Election Threat

In a dangerously undemocratic outburst that has triggered public backlash and deep concern across Nigeria’s political space, Aghahowa Collins, a close aide to newly sworn-in Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, has threatened violence against any individual daring to display the campaign materials of opposition parties in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His exact words — now viral and attracting national condemnation — were as chilling as they were brazen:

“In 2027, if we see any other political party’s banner or poster that is not APC, the person on it and the person pasting it will learn a new lesson. Edo is an APC state and everything must be APC.”

The threat, delivered during a public engagement event over the weekend, has thrown the young administration into its first full-blown free speech and democracy crisis, with critics warning that such rhetoric not only violates constitutional rights but signals the creeping authoritarianism many feared could resurface under a one-party state agenda.

While Collins is not an elected official, his proximity to the governor and his public alignment with state power makes his words even more dangerous. This is not the voice of a political thug on the sidelines — this is a government insider openly threatening opposition voices with punishment for simply exercising their democratic rights.

The Nigerian Constitution is explicit: political plurality is not only allowed but is essential for democratic health. Section 40 guarantees freedom of association, including political association. Section 39 ensures freedom of expression. To threaten violence or reprisals over a party poster is to threaten the very foundation on which Nigeria's fragile democracy rests.

Already, opposition parties in Edo — especially the PDP, Labour Party, and other regional movements — have responded with alarm. A statement from a PDP chieftain in Benin reads: “This is what fascism looks like in its early stages. If the governor does not publicly rebuke his aide, we will consider this the official stance of the Edo State government.”

Civil society groups have also weighed in. Human Rights Watch Nigeria called the comment “a clear incitement to political violence,” while SERAP demanded an immediate retraction and apology, calling on Governor Okpebholo to clarify whether this represents official APC policy in the state.

Yet, at the time of filing this report, no statement has come from Governor Okpebholo or his media team disassociating the administration from Collins’ comment. The silence, many argue, is growing louder by the minute.

This political firestorm is erupting barely weeks after Okpebholo’s controversial swearing-in, which followed months of legal battles and post-election tension. His administration had promised a new era of unity, reform, and reconciliation. But such public threats cast a long shadow over those pledges, especially at a time when Nigeria’s political landscape is already plagued by insecurity, voter apathy, and distrust.

In a democracy, opposition is not only expected — it is protected. What Collins’ statement suggests is a dangerous rewriting of this principle, one where loyalty to a party replaces loyalty to the constitution.

Across social media, Nigerians are speaking out. One post on X (formerly Twitter) reads:

“Edo is not an APC state. It is a democratic state. If you fear competition, you don’t deserve to govern.”

Another user wrote: “This is how it starts. First it's posters. Then it's rallies. Then it’s journalists. Then it’s blood.”

As the nation barrels toward the 2027 general elections, moments like this will be remembered — not just for their hostility, but for how leaders choose to respond. Will Governor Okpebholo uphold the dignity of his office and disown this clear threat to democratic order? Or will silence serve as quiet endorsement?

For now, the people of Edo — and indeed Nigeria — wait. But one thing is clear: when power begins to fear opposition posters, it may be time to fear power itself.

Because democracy dies not just in darkness — but in the silence that follows threats like these.

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