By Staff Reporter.
Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, has urged party members across the state to adopt a “one man, one vote” strategy and mobilise peacefully ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tenebe made the call on Tuesday during the APC’s statewide mobilisation tour of Okpella, Agenebode and Fugar in Etsako East and Etsako Central Local Government Areas of Edo State.
The APC chairman, who accompanied Governor Monday Okpebholo on the tour, urged party members to mobilise voters without resorting to quarrels or violence, stressing the importance of peaceful participation in the electoral process.
He also appealed to voters to support President Bola Tinubu and Governor Okpebholo, saying the continued implementation of their development agenda depended on sustained political support.
“We need to maintain the one man, one vote concept introduced by our leader. Our vote is what is needed to return President Tinubu to power and ensure the developmental stride continues in Nigeria,” Tenebe said.
Tenebe also defended the Federal Government’s decision to remove fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy had increased the resources available to state governments for development.
He claimed that the policy had contributed to improvements across various sectors, particularly security.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has brought about development across all sectors of the Nigerian economy, especially the security sector, as security has improved across the nation,” he said.
According to Tenebe, the mobilisation tour was aimed at strengthening the party at the grassroots by engaging leaders and members at ward and polling-unit levels ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also said the Edo State Government had taken measures to improve security, claiming that criminal activities had become more difficult in the state.
At Fugar, the headquarters of Etsako Central Local Government Area, Tenebe paid tribute to the late Chief Dan Osi Orbih, whom he described as a prominent figure who made significant contributions to Edo State politics.
Speaking during the tour, Governor Okpebholo also called on residents to support the APC in the 2027 elections, saying their votes would be crucial to sustaining the development agenda of the Tinubu administration.
Okpebholo praised President Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy, saying the Federal Government had put measures in place to prevent alleged abuses associated with the subsidy regime and make more funds available to state governments.
“In January 2027, we would be facing a major election in Nigeria and this election will shape Nigeria. I urge you all to play your part and ensure massive votes for our party to return our President to enable him continue his developmental stride in the nation,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Area, Sunny Ekpeson, commended Governor Okpebholo for what he described as his non-interference in local government finances.
Ekpeson, who is also the Edo State chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), said the 18 local government chairmen had been given the freedom to deploy council resources to grassroots development.
“As ALGON chairman in the state, I can confidently say that the governor doesn’t interfere with local government funds as he has given us free hand to utilise our resources to develop the grassroots and ensure dividends of democracy are felt at the grassroots level,” he said.
He added that the local government councils would soon begin commissioning projects across their respective areas.
The mobilisation tour attracted a large gathering of APC members, youths, women leaders and traders in Okpella, Agenebode and Fugar.
