2027: PDP tackles Gov Okpebholo over promise to secure 2.5 million votes for Tinubu 

The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has tackled the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over his promise to secure 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

A statement by Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary, PDP Caretaker Committee in the state described Governor Monday Okpebholo’s promise as not only comical but an outright insult to the intelligence of Edo people.

The PDP’s statement was sequel to a pledge by  Governor Okpebholo to deliver 2.5 million Edo votes to the president in the 2027 presidential election.

The governor, in a statement by Fred Itua, his Chief Press Secretary, and made available to newsmen in Benin City, was quoted as saying that the 2.5 million votes would be a token of appreciation to the president for the developmental strides witnessed across the state under his administration.

Itua said the Governor made the promise at the weekend at Okaijesan Town Hall in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, during a political gathering to welcome thousands of decampees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“In 2027, we will reward President Tinubu’s love for Edo with 2.5 million votes. The people have spoken through their actions. Edo is APC, and APC is the vehicle of our development under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the governor said.

Meanwhile, in its statement, the PDP opined that such a claim by Okpebholo is not only absurd but also reeks of desperation and sycophancy.

Nehikhare added that it was also clearly aimed at pleasing his “Abuja benefactors” in a bid to legitimise the September 2024 electoral charade.

According to him, 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 allegedly marred by heavy militarisation and backed by the full weight of all 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 alleged electoral heist of September 2024, an operation allegedly carried out in open connivance with the electoral umpire and the federal security apparatus, where figures were allegedly 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, alleged 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.

“It is deeply troubling that 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 are confident that President Tinubu, a seasoned political operator, will not be swayed by the noise and exaggerated claims of political opportunists”, he stated.

Nehikhare, however, urged the governor 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.