Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has publicly committed to delivering 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election . The pledge was made as a token of appreciation for what the governor described as Tinubu's developmental strides and economic stabilization efforts .
The governor announced this goal during a political gathering in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, where he welcomed new members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) . Okpebholo stated that the people of Edo would reward President Tinubu’s support for the state . He linked the promise to his belief that Tinubu's policies, including recent tax reforms, have helped stabilize Nigeria's economy .
Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has since reaffirmed the party's commitment to this goal . Idahosa pointed to the outcome of a recent bye-election in Ovia Federal Constituency as evidence of the party’s readiness and capacity for the 2027 polls .
The pledge comes as Nigeria's electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), prepares for a major leadership transition. The current Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, will end his tenure in December 2025, meaning the 2027 elections could be managed by a new leadership team . This transition presents both challenges and opportunities for rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process .
President Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, was elected Nigeria's president in February 2023. His victory was upheld by the Supreme Court in October 2023 after legal challenges from opposition candidates . He won with 36.6% of the popular vote in an election that highlighted Nigeria's regional political divisions .
Governor Okpebholo assured party members that the 2.5 million vote target is realistic, citing solid political structures across Edo State . He described the APC as the vehicle for development under Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda .
The governor's pledge sets an early marker for the 2027 presidential campaign in a state that has historically been a political battleground. It signals the ruling party's intent to consolidate its support in southern Nigeria .