Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has declared that the state will deliver 2.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, describing the target as non-negotiable.
Okpebholo made the declaration on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally held in Oredo, Benin City, where Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Tinubu.
“What we are promising President Tinubu is 2.5 million votes. Things are set in Edo State. As you can see on the board, Asiwaju 2027 is settled. Our 2.5 million votes are not negotiable. They are already settled, and that is the truth,” the governor said .
The governor said Edo people would re-elect President Tinubu for a second term and also vote for APC candidates contesting the Senate, House of Representatives and Edo State House of Assembly seats .
Okpebholo said his administration’s achievements in security, road infrastructure, urban renewal and other sectors would be the key selling points for the APC during the 2027 campaigns.
He listed improvements in security, the Sapele Road corridor, road construction, flyovers, markets, schools and the development of the new Government Reserved Area as achievements his administration would showcase to voters .
He called on APC members to mobilise their families, friends and associates to vote for Tinubu and other party candidates in 2027, saying the party was only waiting for January 16, the date of the election .
Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Benin City on Thursday morning for the rally, accompanied by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other political leaders.
Shettima’s aircraft landed at Benin Airport at about 11:55 a.m., where he was received by Okpebholo, his Imo State counterpart Hope Uzodimma, and other APC faithful .
He was expected to visit the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, before proceeding to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the campaign rally .
This is not the first time Okpebholo has made the 2.5 million votes pledge. In March 2026, at a rally where members of the ADC, PDP and Labour Party defected to the APC, he declared: “2027 and 2.5 million votes are sure for Tinubu. The President should relax and come to Edo to commission projects, not to campaign, as the state is sure and settled for APC” .
He had also claimed in January 2026 that the promise had grown to 3.9 million votes after party leaders added to the target .
