A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Barrister Henry Idahagbon, has warned Governor Monday Okpebholo that his target of securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election may not be achievable unless internal divisions within the party are resolved.
Idahagbon, a former commissioner in the administrations of Lucky Igbinedion and Adams Oshiomhole, described the target as unrealistic if aggrieved party members and influential political leaders continued to feel excluded from the state government.
He made the remarks during an interview with journalists in Benin City, where he advised the governor to prioritise reconciliation and bring all party stakeholders together ahead of the election.
The former Egor Local Government chairman acknowledged Okpebholo’s efforts in mobilising support for the APC but insisted that the governor could not achieve the ambitious vote target through personal popularity alone.
“I commend the governor’s doggedness in campaigning for the party, but I want to advise him to put his house in order. In my opinion, the party is not sufficiently united,” he said.
Idahagbon noted that several political leaders in the state, some of whom had contested elections and built strong relationships with voters over the years, felt alienated by the current arrangement.
He urged Okpebholo, as the party’s leader in the state, to reconcile aggrieved members and unite the different political tendencies within the APC.
According to him, electoral mobilisation requires the collective efforts of influential politicians, grassroots leaders and ordinary party members.
He argued that different political figures command the loyalty of different groups of voters, adding that the governor needed to bring them together to improve the party’s chances of meeting its target.
Idahagbon recalled a remark by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during the inauguration of the presidential campaign council, where Wike reportedly warned campaign officials against celebrating victory without delivering their respective states for Tinubu.
He also alleged that some political leaders felt sidelined because of the influence of a few individuals around the governor.
The APC chieftain maintained that every eligible voter had only one vote, stressing that political leaders must strengthen their grassroots structures rather than rely on individual influence.
He cited the campaign approach of former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who regularly reminded voters that every market woman and individual had one vote during elections.
Idahagbon, who currently represents Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states at the Federal Civil Service Commission, said he considered it his responsibility as a party member and former electoral candidate to offer advice on the party’s preparations.
He also commended Okpebholo’s developmental efforts but urged him to accelerate the delivery of projects and ensure that residents felt the impact of his administration.
He criticised the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, alleging that it failed to fulfil promises made to the people during its eight years in office.
Idahagbon expressed hope that the APC would resolve its internal disagreements and mobilise sufficient support to achieve the 2.5 million-vote target in 2027.
He noted that Okpebholo had spent several weeks moving across the state to mobilise party members, but insisted that reconciliation remained essential to the success of the exercise.
“Edo is my state, and the APC is my party. I pray that we will be able to mobilise our people to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu in 2027,” he added.
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