The Digest:
Jarret Tenebe, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has described the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a "gay party." According to an interview report, Tenebe made the remarks while dismissing claims that APC members attacked the ADC's state secretariat. He stated he did not want to "have anything to do with a party that has so many gays," alleging it was a "family of gay people" and referencing the children of some opposition figures without providing evidence. His comments come amid ongoing political rivalry in the state.
Key Points:
- The statement risks deepening social stigma and hostility against the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria.
- It shifts political discourse from policy to personal and prejudicial attacks, lowering debate standards.
- The opposition ADC may use the remarks to galvanize support and frame the APC as intolerant.
- It reflects the use of identity-based rhetoric as a tool for political mobilization and demonization.
- The timing injects a divisive social issue into the state's political climate ahead of future elections.
The focus now turns to whether this personal attack will escalate tensions or be dismissed as partisan rhetoric within Edo's political arena.
Sources: Punch
