By Tony Osauzo, Benin
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo predicted a wave of mass defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from opposition parties in the South-South ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He shared this on Saturday at a special homecoming reception in Ewatto, Esan South East Local Government Area, following his win at last week’s election petition tribunal.
Okpebholo thanked Edo residents for their support and votes. “The people of Edo State will not regret voting me as their Governor,” he said. “I am happy today that I am in a winning party. A party that was rejected by all and now has become the party that everybody wants to join. APC has come to stay as the government at the centre is APC.”
He foresaw a regional shift. “Very soon, there will be a lot of defections into the APC. People will move and cross carpet from PDP, LP and other opposition parties into the APC and that will be the beginning of South South keying into the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
The Governor expressed pride in his role. “Today, I am happy and proud to say that I am a son to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am also proud to say I carry uncommon grace and uncommon transformation which I am already using to transform and develop Edo State,” he said. “Words that come out of my mouth are prophetic and I am using these words to develop Edo State.”
He outlined his goals. “My administration is working to ensure motorable roads and reducing travelling time for our people. Our development is also covering other neighbouring States because South South must speak with one voice as we approach 2027,” Okpebholo noted.
He praised supporters. “It is not easy to run two elections in a year and win the two offices. I give God the glory,” he said, reflecting on his 2023 Senate win and 2024 governorship victory. “I am not the talking type and never interested in politics, but really want to develop Edo State.”
Okpebholo shared his journey. “In 2021, we looked for an Esan man that would contest for Senate and we did not find anyone who wanted to contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) as everyone wanted to contest under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” he recalled. “The drive to contest came in 2022 when some people came to appeal to me to contest for the Senate and our discussion became an eye opener.”
He vowed to improve water access. “I lost a beloved sister due to bad water which she consumed and I vowed to ensure good water is available across the State,” he said. “Our development will not just be roads, schools, healthcare, providing the people with good drinking water across the State.”
Later, Okpebholo visited the Onojie of Ewatto, HRH Osagie Sylvanus Ikhumen I, and other Edo Central traditional rulers, who prayed for his success. He also toured Chief Lee Ikpea’s Medical Center in Idumuiyase, Ewatto, a yet-to-be-completed facility donated by Dr. Lemon Ikpea.