The caretaker committee of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party has reacted to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s promise to deliver 2.5 million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The party recently described the vow as absurd and comical.
Speaking via a press statement, the Publicity Secretary of the Committee, Chris Nehikhare, stated that Okpebholo’s pledge is an obvious insult to the intelligence of Edo people.
According to him, the Governor’s statement was simply laughable and unrealistic, especially because it is coming from a man who could barely deliver 300,000 votes for himself in a governorship election that was tainted by the APC.
He maintained that amid all of the rigging, federal might and clear suppression of the people’s will, Okpebholo couldn’t even pull a convincing number of votes for himself, yet he is making promises that reek of desperation.
“We read with astonishment the laughable and utterly unrealistic statement credited to Senator Monday Okpebholo, where he promised to deliver 2.5 million votes from Edo State to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Coming from a man who could barely manage 300,000 votes for himself in a governorship election that was marred by heavy militarisation and backed by the full weight of all the APC governors, the Senate President and members of National Executive Council among others, the statement is not only comical but an outright insult to the intelligence of Edo people.
The people of Edo State remember vividly the electoral heist of September 2024—an operation carried out in open connivance with the electoral umpire and the federal security apparatus, where figures were conjured from thin air to fraudulently force Okpebholo into office.
That sham of an election remains a matter of legal contention in the courts today.
Despite all the rigging, concocted figures, deployment of federal might, and blatant suppression of the people’s will, how many votes did Okpebholo and the APC muster? Just 291,000 votes.
Now, with a straight face, he wants Nigerians to believe he can mobilise 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu in 2027—just about the entire number of registered voters across all 18 local government areas in the state.
Such a claim is not only absurd but reeks of desperation and sycophancy, clearly aimed at pleasing his Abuja benefactors in a bid to legitimise the September 2024 electoral charade,” he said.
Chris further noted that despite the increasing insecurity and hunger in the state, the people are stuck with a leader who cares more about seeking commendation from the president with his empty promises.
He concluded by saying that Tinubu, a seasoned political operator, would surely not be deceived by exaggerated claims.
“While Edo people are grappling with growing insecurity as a direct result of lack of leadership, while hunger and economic hardship ravage homes daily, and the state collapses under the burden of decaying infrastructure and poor governance, Okpebholo’s top priority appears to be seeking applause in Abuja through empty posturing and hollow political promises.
We urge Okpebholo to step out of his echo chamber, abandon the obsession with political showmanship, and face the urgent task of governance and delivering real results to the people of Edo State,” he added.
