Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, has declared that he will resign from office if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Okpebholo made the statement on Friday during an appearance on African Independent Television (AIT), where he expressed confidence that Tinubu would win Edo State based on ongoing development projects.
According to the governor, Edo residents would demonstrate their appreciation for the President’s efforts through their votes at the polls.
“Edo people have not yet thanked Tinubu, and the way they will do so is with their votes,” he said.
Highlighting infrastructure and other projects across the state, Okpebholo insisted that the President’s performance would guarantee electoral success in Edo.
“Those projects will speak for him, and he will win here. You can hold me to it—if he doesn’t win, I will resign as governor,” he added.
The governor also emphasised that his political approach is rooted in grassroots engagement rather than violence. He noted that he trained under Chief Aneni and does not subscribe to thuggery.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, Hon. Billy Osawaru, has rejected allegations linking Okpebholo to an alleged assassination attempt on former presidential candidate Peter Obi and other opposition figures.
The allegation was raised by fellow House of Representatives member Hon. Ifeanyi Uzokwe of Anambra State, who urged the governor to address the incident and ensure the safety of all political actors in Edo, regardless of party affiliation.
The controversy follows an attack on Obi and several leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including John Odigie-Oyegun, at the party’s state secretariat in Benin City earlier in the week.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Osawaru described Uzokwe’s claims as misguided and politically motivated.