Edo State governor Monday Okpebholo on Monday defied torrential rain in Benin City as he commenced ward-to-ward mobilisation for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The governor, who was drenched by the rain as he moved through Egor and Oredo local government areas, said although his own governorship mandate would not be on the ballot in 2027, he had thrown himself into the race because President Tinubu, whom he described as his political father, would be seeking re-election.
Okpebholo said he would personally lead the mobilisation for the President and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the state.
“My own election is not now, but my father, Mr President, is in the race. That is why I am in the race.
“I am standing in the gap for President Tinubu. We are committed to ensuring that we deliver 2.5 million votes for his re-election in 2027,” the governor said.
Okpebholo, accompanied by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, Edo APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe, House of Representatives candidates such as Hon. Felix Osaze Igbinovia, Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, party leaders and top government officials, visited several locations in Egor and Oredo to interact with party members and mobilise support for APC candidates.
In Egor, the campaign train visited Ogida Barracks Police Training School and Textile Mill, where party members from the 10 wards gathered to receive the governor.
The mobilisation moved to Oredo, where Okpebholo addressed party faithful at Garrick Memorial College, Edokpolor Grammar School and Uwa Primary School.
Despite the downpour, supporters remained at the venues as the governor and his entourage continued the mobilisation.
Okpebholo said the turnout despite the rain demonstrated the support enjoyed by the APC and its candidates.
“The turnout today in all the places visited in Egor and Oredo, despite the rain, speaks volumes of the love for the party and all our candidates in the general election, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We will continue to work according to the mandate Edo people gave to us. We will work for the growth and development of the state and the party,” he said.
The governor thanked residents of Egor and Oredo for supporting the APC in the recently concluded local government elections and urged them to sustain the support in the 2027 general election.
He asked voters to support APC candidates for the National Assembly and Edo State House of Assembly as well as the President.
On the condition of roads, Okpebholo said his administration was addressing failed roads inherited across the state and would continue interventions to make them motorable.
“The bad roads in the state didn’t happen today. The roads were there before we came to power, but we are working to ensure all the bad roads are fixed.
“We will work to ensure all roads in the state are motorable. This is the reason you voted for us,” he said.
Idahosa thanked party members for their support and urged them to mobilise for APC candidates in the general election.
Tenebe said the party was confident of achieving its 2.5 million-vote target for Tinubu.
He said, “We did it before during the local government elections where we gathered 2,158,600 votes. This has shown that the 2.5 million votes is very achievable.
“The governor is a party man and the party is doing well.”
Egor Local Government Chairman Osaro Eribo and his Oredo counterpart, Gabriel Iduseri, also urged residents to sustain their support for the APC, its candidates and President Tinubu in 2027.
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