2.5 million votes for Tinubu in Edo? We checked Okpebholo's promise against the numbers
Governor Monday Okpebholo says Edo's 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu are “not negotiable”. Edo has 2.87 million registered voters, and the top three presidential candidates got about 565,000 votes there combined in 2023.
The promise: after touring the renovated presidential campaign office in Benin City on Thursday, 29 October, Okpebholo said: “As you can see on the board, Asiwaju 2027 is settled. Our 2.5 million votes are not negotiable. They are already settled, and that is the truth.”
The numbers: INEC puts Edo's registered voters at 2,865,263, so 2.5 million would be about 87% of every registered voter. In the 2023 presidential election in Edo, Peter Obi won with 331,163 votes, Bola Tinubu had 144,471 and Atiku Abubakar 89,585: about 565,000 combined. Nationwide turnout in 2023 was about 27%.
“Okpe's baby”: in a live broadcast on Saturday, 31 October, the governor said “they have even changed my name from Akpako Rescue to Okpe's baby.” He praised the President's reforms, defended fuel subsidy removal and said the naira is gaining against the dollar.
The machine: campaign DG Sen. Mathew Urhoghide said the secretariat was renovated “to create a conducive atmosphere to sell the party's candidates”. Former chairmanship aspirants have been tasked with mobilising the 2.5 million, and the governor has offered land for a federal transport data centre.
The opposition: the ADC has unveiled 37 candidates in Edo, and Olumide Akpata, Labour's 2024 governorship candidate, is now with the ADC. The Edo Labour Party says it is still standing and denies collapsing into the ADC.
The referees: at an INEC stakeholders' meeting on 27 October, Resident Electoral Commissioner Obo Effanga told parties to obey campaign laws, and Police Commissioner Patrick Daor promised protection from “hoodlums and other disruptive elements”.
Sources
More from Votewise News
AnalysisTue, 3 Nov, 15:30“Don't vote for me”: Tinubu's electricity promise vs Atiku's attack, checkedAtiku's campaign says Tinubu broke his 2022 pledge of constant electricity. The APC says the promise must be read in full context. We set out both sides and the numbers.0comments4reads
BreakingMon, 2 Nov, 23:50“Step down for Obi”: Kwankwaso tells Atiku it is still the South's turnNDC running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso has urged Atiku Abubakar to withdraw and back Peter Obi, arguing the presidency should stay in the South. Atiku and the ADC had not responded by filing time.0comments
AnalysisMon, 2 Nov, 10:00“I am no more your leader”: Fubara's handover to Chinda and Wike splits RiversGovernor Siminalayi Fubara has told supporters to stop calling him their leader, as Kingsley Chinda takes the APC and Rainbow Coalition governorship ticket and Nyesom Wike leads the coalition. Critics say he was bullied out; others say it was his right.0comments3reads
Join the conversation
💬 Is 2.5 million votes realistic in Edo? What will bring you out on 16 January?
Votewise is non-partisan. Comments that are abusive, hateful, or share personal phone numbers may be removed.