Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared that Tinubu’s 2027 victory in Edo is already assured. He made this statement on Sunday while celebrating the outcome of the recent by-election, where Joe Ikpea and Omosede Igbinedion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged winners.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor praised Edo voters for turning out in large numbers, insisting that the victory shows that the people have already aligned themselves with the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, “I want to reassure the electorate that with the resounding victory of the APC and its candidates, Ikpea and Igbinedion, the 2027 presidential election will be a walkover for President Tinubu in Edo State.”
Why Edo People Must Question Okpebholo’s Claim
The governor’s arrogant claim that Tinubu’s 2027 victory in Edo is already assured has raised serious questions. Who is Governor Okpebholo to decide the choices of millions of Edo people? Elections are about the free will of the people, not the personal declaration of one individual.
If history has taught anything, it is that Edo voters do not like being taken for granted. From the Oshiomhole era to Obaseki’s unexpected victory in 2020, the state has consistently shown that power belongs to the people. Declaring that Tinubu’s 2027 victory in Edo is already assured overlooks this history and underestimates the will of the electorate.
Okpebholo may celebrate APC’s by-election win, but a by-election is not the same as a statewide presidential poll. Turnout is different, dynamics are different, and issues are broader. Assuming Edo people will automatically give Tinubu a “walkover” is premature and dismissive of the democratic process.
Edo People Deserve the Right to Decide
Governor Okpebholo’s statement raises an important debate about democracy and political arrogance. Edo people should be allowed to decide their future in 2027, not have their votes declared in advance by a politician. Elections must remain about the people’s voices, their concerns, and their aspirations not the ambitions of those in power.
The governor might be banking on his party’s current momentum, but politics can change quickly. Between now and 2027, issues of governance, economy, insecurity, and development will shape voter choices. Declaring that Tinubu’s 2027 victory in Edo is already assured insults the intelligence of the electorate and undermines the very essence of democracy.
Tinubu’s 2027 Victory in Edo Already Assured?
Governor Okpebholo may believe that Tinubu’s 2027 victory in Edo is already assured, but Edo people know better. No single politician has the authority to predict or decide the outcome of an election that is still a year away.
