The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has expressed confidence that the ongoing Federal Government projects in Edo State, coupled with the performance of Governor Monday Okpebholo, will guarantee President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 16 January 2027 presidential election.
Shettima said the combination of Federal infrastructure investments and the developmental strides of the Okpebholo administration had strengthened the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, positioning the party for a decisive electoral victory.
The Vice President spoke on Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, which was filled to capacity during the flag-off of the APC presidential campaign in Edo State.
The event also coincided with the second anniversary of Governor Okpebholo’s administration.
According to Shettima, President Tinubu had, during his previous campaign in Edo State, pledged that the state would not be left behind in the provision of infrastructure and other developmental programmes, noting that the administration had made significant progress in fulfilling the promise.
He listed the ongoing reconstruction of the Benin-Asaba Road and Benin-Sapele-Warri Road, the rehabilitation of the Ihovbor Power Plant, interventions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) cancer treatment centre and Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), among other projects, as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to Edo State.
“We came here four years ago, and President Bola Tinubu promised that Edo State will not be left behind in its infrastructure and other programmes. That is why work is going on the Benin-Asaba Road and the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road.
“We have worked on the Ihovbor Power Plant that will give 600 megawatts to the national grid, and Edo is also working to be power independent. We have worked on the University of Benin Teaching Hospital cancer treatment centre, and we are working in several areas at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.
“We are working in several health institutions across the state. We are empowering our youths through the National Directorate for Employment (NDE). Governor Okpebholo has made the APC proud in this state. We are sure of victory,” he said.
Shettima’s confidence in the party’s electoral prospects was reinforced by the massive turnout of supporters at the stadium, which he said reflected the growing acceptance of the APC and the Tinubu administration in the state.
The Vice President’s remarks also underscored the APC’s strategy of leveraging Federal projects and the performance of its state governors to consolidate its political base ahead of the 2027 general election.
Also speaking, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said APC leaders in the South-South had resolved to deliver the highest number of votes for President Tinubu, insisting that no other zone would surpass the region’s electoral performance.
Akpabio attributed the party’s growing strength in the region to the infrastructure projects executed by the Tinubu administration, including the Calabar Coastal Road, which he described as a long-standing dream that had become a reality under the present government.
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He said Edo State remained the political foundation of the APC in the South-South, recalling its historic role as a pioneer state of the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the APC.
The Senate President added that the party had consolidated its presence across the zone, expressing confidence that the South-South would deliver an overwhelming victory for Tinubu.
The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, said the Tinubu administration had made significant progress in tackling insecurity across the country, particularly in the South-South, where improved security had contributed to increased crude oil production.
Yari said crude oil output had risen from barely 1 million barrels per day to about 1.8 million barrels per day, attributing the development to improved security and the administration’s policies.
Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, said the massive turnout at the campaign flag-off, particularly the dominant presence of youths, had strengthened his confidence in realising the 2.5 million votes promised by Governor Okpebholo.
He urged eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices to ensure full participation in the forthcoming election.
Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, also declared that Okpebholo’s performance in office would make Tinubu’s re-election campaign easier in the state.
Oshiomhole said the governor had demonstrated a commitment to governance through road construction, flyover projects, empowerment programmes for market women, and the construction and equipping of public schools and health centres.
He noted that the governor had matched his promises with action, adding that his achievements had strengthened his bond with the people.
Earlier, Governor Okpebholo said President Tinubu deserved nothing less than a total victory in Edo State, attributing his administration’s achievements to the support and policies of the Federal Government.
The governor disclosed that about 15,000 Edo citizens were benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and described the state as a construction site driven by the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
He said the removal of the fuel subsidy and the reform of the tax system had provided states with increased resources to pursue development.
Okpebholo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering 2.5 million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that Edo State was prepared to deliver an overwhelming victory for the APC.
