Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Saturday, asserted that there will be a total collapse of the opposition in the state ahead of the 2027 general election.
He made this assertion in Uromi, during the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress campaign for the August 16 by-election in Edo Central Senatorial District.
According to Okpebholo, the forthcoming by-election would provide the first evidence that opposition parties are non-existent in the state.
He said, “This is a test for 2027. I can tell you that 2027 is sure. Before 2027, there will be no opposition in Edo State anymore as all will join the APC because of the developmental achievements in the state.
“Hon Joseph Ikpea will take over from me in the Senate. In this election, we will win five local governments out of five. We must win the entire 51 wards in the five local governments that make up the senatorial dstrict.
“I understand that it is only the candidates in the other parties that have not defected to our party, the APC. I advise them not to waste their money but to join our party. If they give you money, take it and vote for the APC. The money is our money.
“We promised to give the President 2.5 million votes, and we are ready to deliver on our promises. We will not talk much because the election is a done deal.
This is the first test for us as we do not have any opposition in the State anymore,” he said.
The event also saw the governor, alongside the chairman of the APC, Jarrett Tenebe, receive defectors.
The defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party included Alhaji Esiwele Musa, Abraham Osazuwa, Sunny Ejie, and Robert Okoneme, among other leaders across the 51 wards.
Tenebe assured the new members of equal opportunities as the old members.
“We are one family. The same honour and expectations accorded to long-standing members are equally extended to you. The coming of new members into the party is a reinforcement of what we stand for. We are welcoming two proven leaders whose experience will further enrich our party’s vision and grassroots reach.
“Let us all know that the strength of the APC lies not just in our numbers, but in our unity, our discipline and our shared belief in a better Edo.
“As a party, we urged all Edo citizens to continue to give our governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the full support and enabling environment he needs to implement his people-centred programs.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, urged Esan people to support Okpebholo, who he claimed has brought development to the state due to his relationship with President Bola Tinubu.
He said the election is the first step to appreciating the president.
Idahosa said, “The President sees our governor as his son, and the state enjoys the dividends of democracy. This is the first step to appreciating the governor and the President. We would not accept anything less than a 90 per cent victory in the election.”
The Edo APC party chairman, Tenebe, presented the party’s flag to the party’s candidate in the senatorial by-election, Joseph Ikpea, urging him to continue from where the governor stopped in the Senate.
He urged the new members of the APC to support the party and the governor to ensure the continuation of developmental strides in Edo State.
The Director General of the Edo Senatorial by-election and former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror, urged the people to embark on a door-to-door campaign for the party’s candidate and ensure his victory.
The APC Edo Central Senatorial leader, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd); APC Edo South leader, Osagie Ize-Iyamu; Deputy State Chairman of APC, Sylvester Aigboboh; and other leaders, urged the people to all come out en masse to vote for the APC candidate in the bye-election.
