Okpebholo's 2.5M Vote Claim for Tinubu Faces Scrutiny

Governor Monday Okpebholo, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asserted that he can deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. This claim has sparked debate among analysts who caution that such optimism may not align with Edo State's electoral realities.

In the 2023 presidential election, Edo State had 2,501,081 registered voters, but only 603,894 were accredited, resulting in 600,395 votes cast. Peter Obi of the Labour Party won with 331,163 votes, while Tinubu received 144,471 votes, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP garnered 89,585 votes.

The projection of 2.5 million votes for Tinubu raises concerns as it exceeds the total votes cast in the previous election. Analysts argue that achieving such a significant electoral shift would require unprecedented mobilization in Edo State, which has not been seen in past presidential contests.

Okpebholo's supporters cite his control of the state's political machinery and a governorship victory affirmed by the Supreme Court in July 2025 as evidence of his influence.