Okpebholo: Tinubu will win Edo in 2027 — and if he doesn’t, I’ll step down

Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, says he is prepared to resign from office if President Bola Tinubu fails to win the state in the 2027 presidential election.

Okpebholo noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) now dominates the political landscape in Edo and faces “no real opposition” ahead of the next general election.

Speaking in an interview with AIT, Okpebholo said Tinubu currently enjoys overwhelming popularity in Edo, even more than himself.

He noted that the administration’s rising acceptance is a direct outcome of the president’s influence on his government.

“Asiwaju is even more popular than me here now because Edo people already know that what I’m doing is because of Asiwaju’s impact,” the governor said.

“You will see the kind of result that will come out from here because there’s no opposition in Edo.”

He said residents of the state are prepared to “reward” the president at the polls, declaring that he would personally take responsibility if Tinubu fails to secure victory.

“Everybody is for Asiwaju. The people will thank him with their votes. If he does not win, I’d resign,” Okpebholo said.

The governor, who was sworn in on 12 November 2024 after defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asue Ighodalo in the September governorship election, also refuted claims that the APC lacks grassroots traction.

According to him, his political strategy draws from years of mentorship and a commitment to community engagement rather than coercion.

“I’m a politician. I understudied Chief Anenih, and my style of politics is not thuggery; it’s grassroots,” he said.

Okpebholo also took a swipe at his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, arguing that the former governor’s performance has left him unpopular among ordinary residents.

“Let him come here. Anytime he comes to Edo — where he is, he will be listening to me now. Let him come. I’m not fighting him, but the record will show whether he should come or not,” he said.

“He can’t come to Edo. His poor record will not make him come. When children can stand to pray for me, no child would stand on the street to pray for Obaseki. No mother on the street will pray for Obaseki.”

The governor noted that his early actions in office, including community outreach and what he described as a “people-first approach”, have strengthened the APC’s hold on the state.

He insisted that the 2027 outcome in Edo is already taking shape and will give Tinubu a comfortable victory.

“Asiwaju is our father. He’s everywhere on the street. Edo will reward him in 2027,” Okpebholo said.