Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has urged former local government chairmanship aspirants in the state to unite behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) and mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Okpebholo gave the charge when he received members of the Forum of All Past Chairmanship Aspirants in Nigeria (FAPCAN), led by its convener and president, Hon. Ikoko Emmanuel, at the Government House in Benin City.
The governor urged the former aspirants not to allow electoral setbacks to weaken their commitment to the party, stressing that loyalty, unity and perseverance remained essential to political success.
“I’m happy to see you all. Let me sincerely thank you for keeping faith with our party. One can lose today and win tomorrow. The faith is what matters,” he said.
He encouraged members of the forum to remain steadfast, adding that those who failed to secure electoral victories could still contribute to the party’s growth and be considered for other opportunities.
According to Okpebholo, securing a decisive victory for Tinubu in the 2027 general elections would strengthen the APC and create opportunities for party members to benefit from appointments and other federal opportunities.
“When we win big, we will have a lot of appointments coming our way. So, if we win the big victory for our president, we will benefit even from the Federal Government,” the governor said.
Earlier, FAPCAN president, Ikoko Emmanuel, said the forum was ready to work with the Edo State Government and other political stakeholders to strengthen grassroots political structures across the state’s 18 local government areas.
Emmanuel stressed the importance of grassroots engagement, political reconciliation and inclusive leadership, noting that members of the forum were prepared to deploy their political experience to build stronger community-based networks.
He also said the forum was committed to supporting the publicly stated target of mobilising 2.5 million votes in Edo State for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He explained that the proposed mobilisation drive would focus on grassroots engagement, stakeholder consultations, political awareness and community outreach.
The FAPCAN president appealed to the governor to recognise and support the forum as a platform through which former chairmanship aspirants could contribute to the administration’s grassroots development agenda and broader political mobilisation efforts.
Okpebholo vows tougher action against illicit drugs
Meanwhile, Okpebholo has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling illicit drug use among youths, disclosing that the state government was engaging the Edo State House of Assembly on proposed legislation to address the problem.
The governor made this known while responding to discussions on efforts to combat illicit drug use in Etsako West Local Government Area.
He said the proposed legislation would establish a legal framework for appropriate sanctions, drawing a comparison with the state’s approach to tackling cultism.
“As for the illicit drugs being taken by youths, we are already talking to the House of Assembly to make a law. The same way we dealt with the issue of cultism is the same way we are going to deal with drugs,” he said.
Okpebholo maintained that the government intended to strengthen measures against illicit drug use across the state, arguing that the absence of a clear legal framework limited the imposition of penalties.
“Where there’s no law, there will be no punishment. We will make sure that it doesn’t happen in Edo again. Where there’s no drugs, there will be no crime. We are coming to that,” he added.
Those present at the meeting included the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Chief of Staff, Hon. Yakubu Musa, JP; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Paul Ohombamu; and APC State Secretary, Lawrence Okah, among others.
